206 NATURAL HISTORY. 



411. It seemeth by these instances of water, that 

 for nourishment the water is almost all in all, and 

 that the earth doth but keep the plant upright, and 

 save it from over-heat and over-cold ; and therefore 

 is a comfortable experiment for good drinkers. It 

 proveth also that our former opinion, that drink in 

 corporate with flesh or roots, as in capon-beer, &c. 

 will nourish more easily, than meat and drink taken 

 severally. 



412. The housing of plants, I conceive, will both 

 accelerate germination, and bring forth flowers and 

 plants in the colder seasons : and as we house hot- 

 country plants, as lemons, oranges, myrtles, to save 

 them ; so we may house our own country plants, to 

 forward them, and make them come in the cold sea 

 sons ; in such sort, that you may have violets, straw 

 berries, peas, all winter : so that you sow or remove 

 them at fit times. This experiment is to be referred 

 unto the comforting of the spirit of the plant by 

 warmth, as well as housing their boughs, &c. So 

 then the means to accelerate germination, are in par 

 ticular eight, in general three. 



Experiments in consort touching the putting back 

 or retardation of germination. 



413. To make roses, or other flowers come late, 

 it is an experiment of pleasure. For the ancients 

 esteemed much of &quot; rosa sera.&quot; And indeed the 

 November rose is the sweetest, having been less ex 

 haled by the sun. The means are these. First, the 

 cutting off their tops immediately after they have 



