CENTURY VIII. 49 



than in others. And I am persuaded that a piece of 

 raw flesh or fish will sooner corrupt in some airs than 

 in others. They be noble experiments that can make 

 this discovery ; for they serve for a natural divination 

 of seasons, better than the astronomers can by their 

 figures: and again, tlu y teach men where to choose 

 their dwelling for their better health. 



O 



Experiment solitary touching increasing of milk in 

 milch-beasts. 



778. There is a kind of stone about Bethlehem, 

 which they grind to powder and put into water where 

 of cattle drink ; which maketh them give more milk. 1 

 Surely there would be some better trials made of 

 mixtures of water in ponds for cattle, 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. 



Experiment solitary touching sand of the nature of glass. 



779. It is reported, that in the valley near the 

 mountain Carmel in Judea there is a sand, which 

 of all other hath most affinity with glass; 2 insomuch 

 as other minerals laid in it turn to a glassy sub 

 stance, without the fire ; and again, glass put into it 

 turneth into the mother-sand. The thing is verv 

 strange, if it be true : and it is likeliest to be caused 

 by some natural furnace, or 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 remolten, do not facilitate the making of glass 

 with less heat. 



1 Sandys, p. 142. 2 id. p. 159. 



VOL. v. 4 



