272 NATURAL HISTORY. 



going up, until it hath gathered into a knot, and so 

 is more urged to put forth. And therefore they are 

 most of them hollow when the stalk is dry, as fennel- 

 stalk, stubble, and canes, 



590. Flowers have all exquisite figures ; and the 

 flower numbers are chiefly five, and four ; as in 

 primroses, brier-roses, single musk roses, single 

 pinks, and gilly-flowers, &c. which have five leaves : 

 lilies, flower-de-luces, borage, bugloss, &c. which 

 have four leaves. But some put forth leaves not 

 numbered ; but they are ever small ones ; as mary- 

 golds, trefoils, &c. We see also, that the sockets 

 and supporters of flowers are figured ; as in the five 

 brethren of the rose, sockets of gilly-flowers, &c. 

 Leaves also are all figured ; some round ; some long ; 

 none square ; and many jagged on the sides ; which 

 leaves of flowers seldom are. For I account the 

 jagging of pinks and gilly-flowers, to be like the in 

 equality of oak leaves, or vine leaves, or the like : 

 but they seldom or never have any small purls. 



Experiments in consort touching some principal dif 

 ferences in plants. 



591. Of plants, some few put forth their blossoms 

 before their leaves ; as almonds, peaches, cornelians, 

 black thorn, &c. but most put forth some leaves be 

 fore their blossoms; as apples, pears, plums, cherries, 

 white thorn, &c. The cause is, for that those that 

 put forth their blossoms first, have either an acute 

 and sharp spirit, and therefore commonly they all 

 put forth early in the spring, and ripen very late ; 



