264 NATURAL HISTORY. 



the middle of a free-stone. We see also that flints, 

 lying above ground, gather moss ; and wall-flowers, 

 and some other flowers, grow upon walls ; but whe 

 ther upon the main brick or stone, or whether out of 

 the lime or chinks, is not well observed : for elders 

 and ashes have been seen to grow out of steeples ; 

 but they manifestly grow out of clefts ; insomuch 

 as when they grow big, they will disjoin the stone. 

 And besides, it is doubtful whether the mortar itself 

 putteth it forth, or whether some seeds be not let 

 fall by birds. There be likewise rock-herbs, but I 

 suppose those are where there is some mold or earth. 

 It hath likewise been found, that great trees grow 

 ing upon quarries have put down their root into the 

 stone. 



. 571. In some mines in Germany, as is reported, 

 there grow in the bottom vegetables, and the work- 

 folks use to say they have magical virtue, and will 

 not suffer men to gather them. 



572. The sea sands seldom bear plants. Where 

 of the cause is yielded by some of the ancients, for 

 that the sun exhaleth the moisture before it can in 

 corporate with the earth, and yield a nourishment 

 for the plant. And it is affirmed also that sand hath 

 always its root in clay ; and that there be no veins 

 of sand any great depth within the earth. 



573. It is certain, that some plants put forth for 

 a time of their own store, without any nourishment 

 from earth, water, stone, c. of which vide the expe 

 riment 29. 



