150116Natural Hiſtory;
that, yet it cannot be for other Reaſons:
For firſt, it is found but upon
certain Trees; and thoſe Trees bear no ſuch Fruit, as may allure that B rd to
ſit and feed upon them. It may be, that Bird feedeth upon the Miſſeltoe-
Berries, and ſo is often ſound there; which may have given occaſion to the
tale. But that which maketh an end of the queſtion is, that Miſſeltoe hath
been found to put forth under the Boughs, and not (onely) above the Boughs;
ſo it cannot be any thing that falleth upon the Bough. M@ſſeltoe groweth
chiefly upon Crab-trees, Apples-trees, ſometimes upon H@ſles, and rarely
upon Oaks; the Miſſeltoe where of is counted very Medicinal. It is ever
green, Winter and Summer, and beareth a white gliſtering Berry; and it is a
Plant, utterly differing from the Plant, upon which it groweth. Two things
therefore may be certainly ſet down: Firſt, that Superfætation muſt be by
abundance of Sap, in the Bough that putteth it forth. Secondly, that that
Sap muſt be ſuch as the Tree doth excern, and cannot aſſimilare, for elſe it
would go into a Bough; and beſides, it ſeemeth to be more fat and unctuous,
than the ordinary Sap of the Tree; both by the Berry which is clammy, and
by that it continueth green Winter and Summer, which the Tree doth
not.
certain Trees; and thoſe Trees bear no ſuch Fruit, as may allure that B rd to
ſit and feed upon them. It may be, that Bird feedeth upon the Miſſeltoe-
Berries, and ſo is often ſound there; which may have given occaſion to the
tale. But that which maketh an end of the queſtion is, that Miſſeltoe hath
been found to put forth under the Boughs, and not (onely) above the Boughs;
ſo it cannot be any thing that falleth upon the Bough. M@ſſeltoe groweth
chiefly upon Crab-trees, Apples-trees, ſometimes upon H@ſles, and rarely
upon Oaks; the Miſſeltoe where of is counted very Medicinal. It is ever
green, Winter and Summer, and beareth a white gliſtering Berry; and it is a
Plant, utterly differing from the Plant, upon which it groweth. Two things
therefore may be certainly ſet down: Firſt, that Superfætation muſt be by
abundance of Sap, in the Bough that putteth it forth. Secondly, that that
Sap muſt be ſuch as the Tree doth excern, and cannot aſſimilare, for elſe it
would go into a Bough; and beſides, it ſeemeth to be more fat and unctuous,
than the ordinary Sap of the Tree; both by the Berry which is clammy, and
by that it continueth green Winter and Summer, which the Tree doth
not.
This Experiment of Miſſeltoe may give light to other practices;
therefore
11557. tryal would be made, by tipping of the Bough of a Crab-tree in the Ba@k, and
watering of the Wound every day, with warm water dunged, to ſee if it
would bring forth Miſſeltoe, or any fuch like thing. But it were yet more
likely, to try it with ſome other watering or anointing, that were not ſonatu-
ral to the Treeas Water is; as Oyl, or Barm of Drink, & c. So they be ſuch
things as kill not the Bough.
11557. tryal would be made, by tipping of the Bough of a Crab-tree in the Ba@k, and
watering of the Wound every day, with warm water dunged, to ſee if it
would bring forth Miſſeltoe, or any fuch like thing. But it were yet more
likely, to try it with ſome other watering or anointing, that were not ſonatu-
ral to the Treeas Water is; as Oyl, or Barm of Drink, & c. So they be ſuch
things as kill not the Bough.
It were good to try, what Plants would put forth, if they be forbidden
22558. to putforth their natural Boughs: Powl thereſore a Tree, and cover it, ſome
thickneſs with Clay on the top, and ſee what it will put forth. I ſuppoſe it
will put forth Roots; for ſo will a Cions, being turned down into Clay.
Therefore in this Experimentalſo, the Tree would be cloſed with ſomewhat
that is not ſo natural to the Plant as Clay is; try it with Leather, or Cloth, or
Painting, ſo it be not hurtſul to the Tree. And it is certain, that a Brake hath
been known to grow out of a Pollard.
22558. to putforth their natural Boughs: Powl thereſore a Tree, and cover it, ſome
thickneſs with Clay on the top, and ſee what it will put forth. I ſuppoſe it
will put forth Roots; for ſo will a Cions, being turned down into Clay.
Therefore in this Experimentalſo, the Tree would be cloſed with ſomewhat
that is not ſo natural to the Plant as Clay is; try it with Leather, or Cloth, or
Painting, ſo it be not hurtſul to the Tree. And it is certain, that a Brake hath
been known to grow out of a Pollard.
A Man may count the Prickes of Trees to be a kinde of Excreſcence, for
33559. they will never be Boughs, nor bear Leaves. The Plants that have Prickles,
are Thorns, Black and White; Bryer, Roſe, Lemmon-trees, Crab-trees,
Goosberry, Berberry; theſe have it in the Bough. The Plants that have
Prickles in the Leaf are, Holly, Juniper, Whin buſh, Thiſtle; Nettles alſo
have a ſmall venemous Prickle; ſo hath Borrage, but harmleſs. The cauſe
muſt be, haſty putting forth, want of moiſture, and the cloſeneſs of the Bark:
For the haſte of the Spirit to put forth, and the want of nouriſhment to put
forth a Bough, and the cloſeneſs of the Bark, cauſe Prickles in Boughs; and
therefore they are ever like a Pyramis, for that the moiſture ſpendeth after a lit-
tle putting forth. And for Prickles in Leaves, they come alſo of putting forth
more Juyce into the Leaf that can ſpred in the Leaf ſmooth; and therefore
the Leaves other wiſe are rough, as Burrage and Nettles are. As for the Leaves
of Holly, they are ſmooth, but never plain, but as it were with folds for the
ſame cauſe.
33559. they will never be Boughs, nor bear Leaves. The Plants that have Prickles,
are Thorns, Black and White; Bryer, Roſe, Lemmon-trees, Crab-trees,
Goosberry, Berberry; theſe have it in the Bough. The Plants that have
Prickles in the Leaf are, Holly, Juniper, Whin buſh, Thiſtle; Nettles alſo
have a ſmall venemous Prickle; ſo hath Borrage, but harmleſs. The cauſe
muſt be, haſty putting forth, want of moiſture, and the cloſeneſs of the Bark:
For the haſte of the Spirit to put forth, and the want of nouriſhment to put
forth a Bough, and the cloſeneſs of the Bark, cauſe Prickles in Boughs; and
therefore they are ever like a Pyramis, for that the moiſture ſpendeth after a lit-
tle putting forth. And for Prickles in Leaves, they come alſo of putting forth
more Juyce into the Leaf that can ſpred in the Leaf ſmooth; and therefore
the Leaves other wiſe are rough, as Burrage and Nettles are. As for the Leaves
of Holly, they are ſmooth, but never plain, but as it were with folds for the
ſame cauſe.
There be alſo Plants, that though they have no Prickles, yet they have a
44560. kinde of Downey or Velvet Rine upon their Leaſes; as Roſe-Campion Stock-
Gilliflowers, Colts-foot; which Down or Nap cometh of a ſubtile Spirit, in a
ſoft or fat ſubſtance. For it is certain, that both Stock-Gilliflowers, and
44560. kinde of Downey or Velvet Rine upon their Leaſes; as Roſe-Campion Stock-
Gilliflowers, Colts-foot; which Down or Nap cometh of a ſubtile Spirit, in a
ſoft or fat ſubſtance. For it is certain, that both Stock-Gilliflowers, and
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