262 NATURAL HISTORY. 



582. There is also upon sweet, or other brier, a 

 fine tuft or brush of moss of divers colours; which 

 if you cut you shall ever find full of little white 

 worms. 



Experiments in consort touching the producing of 

 perfect plants without seed. 



563. It is certain, that earth taken out of the 

 foundations of vaults and houses, and bottoms of 

 wells, and then put into pots, will put forth sundry 

 kinds of herbs : but some time is required for the 

 germination : for if it be taken but from a fathom 

 deep, it will put forth the first year ; if much deeper, 

 not till after a year or two. 



564. The nature of the plants growing out of 

 earth so taken up, doth follow the nature of the mold 

 itself; as if the mold be soft and fine, it putteth forth 

 soft herbs, as grass, plantain, and the like ; if the 

 earth be harder and coarser, it putteth forth herbs 

 more rough, as thistles, firs, &c. 



565. It is common experience, that where alleys 

 are close gravelled, the earth putteth forth the first 

 year knot grass, and after spire grass. The cause is, 

 for that the hard gravel or pebble at the first laying 

 will not suffer the grass to come forth upright, but 

 turneth it to find his way where it can ; but after 

 that the earth is somewhat loosened at the top, the 

 ordinary grass cometh up. 



566. It is reported, that earth being taken out 

 of shady and watery woods some depth, and potted, 

 will put forth herbs of a fat and juicy sub- 



