274 NATURAL HISTORY. 



upon a holly, will prove both an earlier and a greater 

 tree. 



593. There be some plants that bear no flower 

 and yet bear fruit ; there be some that bear flowers 

 and no fruit ; there be some that bear neither flowers 

 nor fruit. Most of the great timber trees, as 

 oaks, beeches, &e. bear no apparent flowers ; some 

 few likewise of the fruit trees, as mulberry, walnut, 

 &c. and some shrubs, as juniper, holly, &e. bear 

 no flowers. Divers herbs also bear seeds, which is 

 as the fruit, and yet bear no flowers, as purslane, 

 &c. Those that bear flowers and no fruit are few, 

 as the double cherry, the sallow, &c. But for the 

 cherry, it is doubtful whether it be not by art or 

 culture ; for if it be by art then trial would be made, 

 whether apples, and other fruits blossoms, may not 

 be doubled. There are some few that bear neither 

 fruit nor flower, as the elm, the poplars, box, 

 brakes, &c. 



594. There be some plants that shoot still 

 upwards and can support themselves, as the greatest 

 part of trees and plants ; there be some other that 

 creep along the ground, or wind about other trees 

 or props, and cannot support themselves, as vines, 

 ivy, brier, briony, woodbines, hops, climatis, camo 

 mile, &c. The cause is, as hath been partly 

 touched, for that all plants naturally move up 

 wards ; but if the sap put up too fast, it maketh 

 a slender stalk, which will not support the weight ; 

 and therefore these latter sort are all swift and 

 hasty comers. 



