302 NATURAL HISTORY. 



ness is used for angle-rods and staves ; and in China 

 for beating of offenders upon the thighs. The dif 

 fering kinds of them are, the common reed, the 

 cassia fistula, and the sugar-reed. Of all plants it 

 boweth the easiest, and riseth again. It seemeth, 

 that amongst plants which are nourished with mix 

 ture of earth and water, it draweth most nourishment 

 from water ; which maketh it the smoothest of all 

 others in bark, and the hollo west in body. 



657. The sap of trees when they are let blood, 

 is of differing natures. Some more watery and clear, 

 as that of vines, of beeches, of pears : some thick, as 

 apples : some gummy, as cherries : some frothy, as 

 elms : some milky, as figs. In mulberries the sap 

 seemeth to be almost towards the bark only, for if 

 you cut the tree a little into the bark with a stone, 

 it will come forth ; if you pierce it deeper with a 

 tool, it will be dry. The trees which have the 

 moistest juices in their fruit, have commonly the 

 moistest sap in their body, for the vines and pears 

 are very moist ; apples somewhat more spungy : the 

 milk of the fig hath the quality of the rennet, to 

 gather cheese ; and so have^certain sour herbs where 

 with they make cheese in Lent. 



658. The timber and wood are in some trees 

 more clean, in some more knotty, and it is a good 

 trial to try it by speaking at one end, and laying the 

 ear at the other : for if it be knotty, the voice will 

 not pass well. Some have the veins more varied and 

 chambletted, as oak, whereof wainscot is made ; 

 maple, whereof trenchers are msde : some more 



