2 1 2 NATURAL HISTORY. 



430. It is usually practised, to set trees that 

 require much sun upon walls against the south ; as 

 apricots, peaches, plums, vines, figs, and the like. It 

 hath a double commodity ; the one, the heat of the 



wall by reflexion ; the other, the taking away of the 

 shade ; for when a tree groweth round, the upper 

 boughs over-shadow the lower : but when it is spread 

 upon a wall, the sun cometh alike upon the upper 

 and lower branches. 



431. It hath also been practised by some, to pull 

 off some leaves from the trees so spread, that the 

 sun may come upon the bough and fruit the better. 

 There hath been practised also a curiosity, to set a 

 tree upon the north side of a wall, and at a little 

 height to draw it through the wall, and spread it 

 upon the south side : conceiving that the root and 

 lower part of the stock should enjoy the freshness of 

 the shade ; and the upper boughs, and fruit, the 

 comfort of the sun. But it sorted not ; the cause 

 is, for that the root requireth some comfort from the 

 sun, though under earth, as well as the body : and 

 the lower part of the body more than the upper, as 

 we see in compassing a tree below with straw. 



432. The lowness of the bough where the fruit 

 cometh, maketh the fruit greater, and to ripen 

 better ; for you shall ever see, in apricots, peaches, 

 or melocotones upon a wall, the greatest fruits 

 towards the bottom. And in France, the grapes 

 that make the wine, grow upon low vines bound to 

 small stakes ; and the raised vines in arbours make 

 but verjuice. It is true, that in Italy and other 



