CENTURY V. 211 



figs, &c. The like is continually practised with 

 vines, roses, musk-roses, &c. 



427. From May to July you may take off the 

 bark of any bough, being of the bigness of three or 

 four inches, and cover the bare place, somewhat 

 above and below, with loam well tempered with 

 horse-dung, binding it fast down. Then cut off the 

 bough about Allallontide in the bare place, and set 

 it in the ground, and it will grow to be a fair tree in 

 one year. The cause may be, for that the baring 

 from the bark keepeth the sap from descending 

 towards winter, and so holdeth it in the bough ; and 

 it may be also that the loam and horse-dung applied 

 to the bare place do moisten it, and cherish it, and 

 make it more apt to put forth the root. Note, that 

 this may be a general means for keeping up the sap 

 of trees in their boughs, which may serve to other 

 effects. 



428. It hath been practised in trees that shew 

 fair and bear not, to bore a hole through the heart 

 of the tree, and thereupon it will bear. Which may 

 be, for that the tree before had too much repletion, 

 and was oppressed with its own sap ; for repletion 

 is an enemy to generation. 



429. It hath been practised in trees that do not 

 bear, to cleave two or three of the chief roots, and to 

 put into the cleft a small pebble, which may keep 

 it open, and then it will bear. The cause may be, 

 for that a root of a tree may be, as it were, hide 

 bound, no less than the body of the tree ; but it will 

 not keep open without somewhat put into it. 



