CENTURY VII. 349 



any thing that is fat ; for those substances have an 

 antipathy with nourishment of water. 



670. The remedies of the diseases of corn have 

 been observed as followeth. The steeping of the 

 grain, before sowing, a little time in wine, is thought 

 a preservative : the mingling of seed corn with ashes 

 is thought to be good : the sowing at the wane of 

 the moon, is thought to make the corn sound : it 

 hath not been practised, but it is thought to be of 

 use to make some miscellane in corn, as if you sow 

 a few beans with wheat, your wheat will be the 

 better. It hath been observed that the sowing of 

 corn with housleek doth good. Though grain that 

 toucheth oil or fat, receiveth hurt, yet the steeping 

 of it in the dregs of oil, when it beginneth to pu- 

 trify, which they call amurca, is thought to assure it 

 against worms. It is reported also, that if corn be 

 mowed, it will make the grain longer, but emptier, 

 and having more of the husk. 



671. It hath been noted, that seed of a year old 

 is the best, and of two or three years is worse, and 

 that which is more old is quite barren ; though, no 

 doubt, some seeds and grains last better than others. 

 The corn which in the vanning lieth lowest is the 

 best : and the corn which broken or bitten retaineth 

 a little yellowness, is better than that which is very 

 white. 



672. It hath been observed, that of all roots of 

 herbs, the root of sorrel goeth the farthest into the 

 earth ; insomuch that it hath been known to go three 



