301 NATURAL HISTORY. 



660. The putting forth of certain herbs disco- 

 vereth of what nature the ground where they put 

 forth is, as wild thyme sheweth good feeding-ground 

 for cattle ; betony and strawberries shew grounds 

 fit for wood ; camomile sheweth mellow grounds 

 fit for wheat. Mustard-seed, growing after the 

 plough, sheweth a good strong ground also for 

 wheat : burnet sheweth good meadow, and the like. 



661. There are found in divers countries, some 

 other plants that grow out of trees and plants, 

 besides misseltoe : as in Syria there is an herb called 

 cassytas, that groweth out of tall trees, and windeth 

 itself about the same tree where it groweth, and 

 sometimes about thorns. There is a kind of poly- 

 pode that groweth out of trees, though it windeth 

 not. So likewise an herb called faunos, upon the 

 wild olive. And an herb called hippophaeston upon 

 the fullers thorn : which, they say, is good for the 

 falling sickness. 



662. It hath been observed by some of the 

 ancients, that howsoever cold and easterly winds are 

 thought to be great enemies to fruit, yet neverthe 

 less south winds are also found to do hurt, especially 

 in the blossoming time, and the more if showers 

 follow. It seemeth they call forth the moisture too 

 fast. The west winds are the best. It hath been 

 observed also, that green and open winters do hurt 

 trees, insomuch as if two or three such winters come 

 together almond-trees, and some other trees, will 

 die. The cause is the same with the former, because 



