220 NATURAL HISTORY. 



fig will come somewhat later, as was formerly 

 touched. The same may be tried likewise in other 

 trees. 



456. It is reported, that mulberries will be fairer, 

 and the trees more fruitful, if you bore the trunk of 

 the tree through in several places, and thrust into 

 the places bored wedges of some hot trees, as tur 

 pentine, mastic-tree, guaiacum, juniper, &c. The 

 cause may be, for that adventive heat doth cheer up 

 the native juice of the tree. 



457. It is reported, that trees will grow greater, 

 and bear better fruit, if you put salt, or lees of wine, 

 or blood to the root. The cause may be the in 

 creasing the lust or spirit of the root ; these things 

 being more forcible than ordinary composts. 



458. It is reported by one of the ancients, that 

 artichokes will be less prickly, and more tender, if 

 the seeds have their tops dulled, or grated off upon 

 a stone. 



459. Herbs will be tenderer and fairer, if you 

 take them out of beds, when they are newly come 

 up, and remove them into pots with better earth. 

 The remove from bed to bed was spoken of before ; 

 but that was in several years ; this is upon the sudden ; 

 The cause is the same with other removes formerly 

 mentioned. 



460. Coleworts are reported by one of the 

 ancients to prosper exceedingly, and to be better 

 tasted, if they be sometimes watered with salt water, 

 and much more with water mixed with nitre ; the 

 spirit of which is less adurent than salt. 



