258 NATURAL HISTORY 



wind many times rises and ceases, the former weather re 

 maining and continuing. 



15. After hoary frosts and long continued snow there 

 scarcely blows any other wind than a south wind, there being, 

 as it were, a concoction or digestion made of cold, which then 

 at last dissolves ; neither doth rain also follow ; but this 

 likewise happens in changes or intervals of fair weather. 



16. The south wind rises oftener and blows stronger in 

 the night than in the day, especially in winter nights. 

 But the north wind, if it rise in the night (which is contrary 

 to its custom), it doth usually last above three days. 



17. When the south wind blows the waves swell higher 

 than when the north wind blows, though it blows with an 

 equal or lesser force. 



18. The south wind blowing, the sea becomes blue and 

 more bright than when the north wind blows, which causes 

 it to look darker and blacker. 



19. When the air becomes warmer on a sudden, it some 

 times betokens rain ; and, again at other times, when on a 

 sudden it grows colder, it likewise betokens rain. But this 

 happens according to the nature of the winds ; for if the 

 air grow warm whilst the south or east wind blows, there 

 is rain at hand, and likewise when it grows cold during the 

 northern or western blasts. 



20. The south wind blows for the most part entire and 

 alone. But the north wind blowing, especially the east- 

 jiorth-east, or the north-west, oftentimes contrary and 

 various, or divers winds blow together, whereby they are 

 broken and disturbed. 



21. Beware of a northern wind when you sow seed, 



neither would I wish any one to inoculate or graft in a 



1-1 

 southern wind. 



22. Leaves fall from trees soonest on the south side, but 

 vine sprouts or stalks bud forth, and grow most that way. 



23. In large pasture shepherds must take care (as Pliny 

 saith) to bring their flocks to the north side, that they may 

 feed against the south. For if they feed towards the north 

 they grow lame and bleareyed, and distempered in their 

 bellies. The northern wind also doth so weaken their 

 coupling, that if they couple looking that way, they will for 

 the most part bring forth ewe-lambs. But Pliny doth not 

 stand very stifly to this opinion, having, as it were, taken it 

 up upon trust and borrowed it. 



24. Winds are hurtful to wheat and all manner of grain 

 at three times ; namely, at the opening and at the falling 



