172138Natural Hiſtory;
It hath been obſerved, that ſome Herbs like beſt being watered with
11673. Salt-water; as Radiſh, Beet, Rue, Penny royal. This tryal would be extended
to ſome other Herbs; eſpecially ſuch as are ſtrong, as Tarragon, Muſtard-
ſeed, Rocket, and the like.
11673. Salt-water; as Radiſh, Beet, Rue, Penny royal. This tryal would be extended
to ſome other Herbs; eſpecially ſuch as are ſtrong, as Tarragon, Muſtard-
ſeed, Rocket, and the like.
It is ſtrange, that it is generally received, how ſome poyſonous Beaſts
22674. affect odorate and wholſome Herbs; as, that the Snake loveth Fennel, that
the Toad will be much under Sage, that Frogs will be in Cinquefoil. It may be
it is rather the Shade, or other Coverture, that they take liking in, then the
virtue of the Herb.
22674. affect odorate and wholſome Herbs; as, that the Snake loveth Fennel, that
the Toad will be much under Sage, that Frogs will be in Cinquefoil. It may be
it is rather the Shade, or other Coverture, that they take liking in, then the
virtue of the Herb.
It were a matter of great profit, (ſave that I doubt it is too conjectural
33675. to venture upon) if one could diſcern what Corn, Herbs, or Fruits, are like
to be in Plenty or Scarcity, by ſome Signs and Prognoſticks in the begin-
ning of the year: For as for thoſe that are like to be in Plenty, they may be
bargained for upon the Ground; as the old relation was of Thales, who to
ſhew how eaſie it was for a Philoſopher to be rich, when he foreſaw a great
plenty of Olives, made a Monopoly of them. And for Scarcity, Men may
make profit in keeping better the old ſtore. Long continuance of Snow is
believed to make a fruitful year of Corn; an early Winter, or a very late
Winter, a barren year of Corn, an open and ſerene Winter, an ill year of
Fruit. Theſe we have partly touched before; but other Prognoſticks of like
nature are diligently to be enquired.
33675. to venture upon) if one could diſcern what Corn, Herbs, or Fruits, are like
to be in Plenty or Scarcity, by ſome Signs and Prognoſticks in the begin-
ning of the year: For as for thoſe that are like to be in Plenty, they may be
bargained for upon the Ground; as the old relation was of Thales, who to
ſhew how eaſie it was for a Philoſopher to be rich, when he foreſaw a great
plenty of Olives, made a Monopoly of them. And for Scarcity, Men may
make profit in keeping better the old ſtore. Long continuance of Snow is
believed to make a fruitful year of Corn; an early Winter, or a very late
Winter, a barren year of Corn, an open and ſerene Winter, an ill year of
Fruit. Theſe we have partly touched before; but other Prognoſticks of like
nature are diligently to be enquired.
There ſeem to be in ſome Plants ſingularities, wherein they differ from
44676. all other. The Olive hath the oyly part onely on the outſide, whereas all
other Fruits have it in the Nut or Kernel. The Firr hath (in effect) no Stone,
Nut, nor Kernel; except you will count the little Grains, Kernels. The
Pomegranate and Pine-Apple have onely, amongſt Fruits, Grains, diſtinct in
ſeveral Cells. No Herbs have curled Leaves, but Cabbage and Cabbage-
Lettuce. None have double Leaves, one belonging to the Stalk, another to
the Fruit or Seed, but the Artichoak. No Flower hath that kinde of ſpred
that the Wood-bine hath. This may be a large Field of Contemplation; for
it ſhe weth, that in the Frame of Nature there is, in the producing of ſome
Species, a compoſition of Matter, which hapneth oft, and may be much
diverſified; in others, ſuch as hapneth rarely, and admitteth little variety.
For ſo it is likewiſe in Beaſts; Dogs have a reſemblance with Wolves and
Foxes, Horſes with Aſſes, Kine with Bufles, Hares with Coneys, & c. And
ſo in Birds; Kites and Keſtrels have a reſemblance with Hawks; Common
Doves with Ring-Doves and Turtles; Black-Birds with Thruſhes and Ma-
viſſes; Crows with Ravens, Daws, and Choughs, & c. But Elephants and
Swine amongſt Beaſts, and the Bird of Paradiſe, and the Peacock amongſt
Birds, and ſome few others, have ſcarce any other Species that have affinity
with them.
44676. all other. The Olive hath the oyly part onely on the outſide, whereas all
other Fruits have it in the Nut or Kernel. The Firr hath (in effect) no Stone,
Nut, nor Kernel; except you will count the little Grains, Kernels. The
Pomegranate and Pine-Apple have onely, amongſt Fruits, Grains, diſtinct in
ſeveral Cells. No Herbs have curled Leaves, but Cabbage and Cabbage-
Lettuce. None have double Leaves, one belonging to the Stalk, another to
the Fruit or Seed, but the Artichoak. No Flower hath that kinde of ſpred
that the Wood-bine hath. This may be a large Field of Contemplation; for
it ſhe weth, that in the Frame of Nature there is, in the producing of ſome
Species, a compoſition of Matter, which hapneth oft, and may be much
diverſified; in others, ſuch as hapneth rarely, and admitteth little variety.
For ſo it is likewiſe in Beaſts; Dogs have a reſemblance with Wolves and
Foxes, Horſes with Aſſes, Kine with Bufles, Hares with Coneys, & c. And
ſo in Birds; Kites and Keſtrels have a reſemblance with Hawks; Common
Doves with Ring-Doves and Turtles; Black-Birds with Thruſhes and Ma-
viſſes; Crows with Ravens, Daws, and Choughs, & c. But Elephants and
Swine amongſt Beaſts, and the Bird of Paradiſe, and the Peacock amongſt
Birds, and ſome few others, have ſcarce any other Species that have affinity
with them.
We leave the Deſcription of Plants and their Virtues to Herbals, and
other like Books of Natural Hiſtory wherein Mens diligence hath been
great even to Curioſity. For our Experiments are onely ſuch, as do ever
aſcend a degree to the deriving of Cauſes, and extracting of Axioms, which
we are not ignorant, but that ſome, both of the Ancient and Modern VVriters
have alſo labored; but their Cauſes and Axioms are ſo ſull of Imagination,
and ſo infected with the old received Theories, as they are meer Inquinati-
ons of Experience, and concoct it not.
other like Books of Natural Hiſtory wherein Mens diligence hath been
great even to Curioſity. For our Experiments are onely ſuch, as do ever
aſcend a degree to the deriving of Cauſes, and extracting of Axioms, which
we are not ignorant, but that ſome, both of the Ancient and Modern VVriters
have alſo labored; but their Cauſes and Axioms are ſo ſull of Imagination,
and ſo infected with the old received Theories, as they are meer Inquinati-
ons of Experience, and concoct it not.