294 NATURAL HISTORY. 



crabs, &c. Those that bear best below, are such as 

 shade doth more good to than hurt. For generally 

 all fruits bear best lowest, because the sap tireth not, 

 having but a short way : and therefore in fruits 

 spread upon walls, the lowest are the greatest, as 

 was formerly said : so it is the shade that hindereth 

 the lower boughs, except it be in such trees as 

 delight in shade, or at least bear it well. And there 

 fore they are either strong trees, as the oak, or else 

 they have large leaves, as the walnut and fig, or else 

 they grow in pyramis, as the pear. But if they 

 require very much sun, they bear best on the top, 

 as it is in crabs, apples, plums, &c. 



638. There be trees that bear best when they 

 begin to be old, as almonds, pears, vines, and all 

 trees that give mast. The cause is, for that all trees 

 that bear mast, have an oily fruit, and young trees 

 have a more watery juice, and less concocted, and of 

 the same kind also is the almond. The pear like 

 wise, though it be not oily, yet it requireth much 

 sap, and well concocted, for we see it is a heavy 

 fruit and solid, much more than apples, plums, &c. 

 As for the vine, it is noted, that it beareth more 

 grapes when it is young , but grapes that make 

 better wine when it is old; for that the juice is 

 better concocted ; and we see that wine is inflam 

 mable, so as it hath a kind of oiliness. But the most 

 part of trees, amongst which are apples, plums, &c. 

 bear best when they are young. 



639. There be plants that have a milk in them 

 when they are cut, as figs, old lettuce, sow-thistles, 



