CENTURY VIII. 411 



potsherds or vessels of earth in their walls, to gather 

 the wind from the top, and to pass it down in spouts 

 into rooms. It is a device for freshness in great heats : 

 and it is said, there are some rooms in Italy and Spain 

 for freshness, and gathering the winds and air in the 

 heats of summer ; but they be but pennings of the 

 winds, and enlarging them again, and making them 

 reverberate, and go round in circles, rather than this 

 device of spouts in the wall. 



Experiment solitary touching the trials of airs. 



777. There would be used much diligence in the 

 choice of some bodies and places, as it were, for the 

 tasting of air ; to discover the wholesomeness or un- 

 wholesomeness, as well of seasons, as of the seats of 

 dwellings. It is certain, that there be some houses 

 wherein confitures and pies will gather mould more 

 than in others. And I am persuaded that a piece of 

 raw flesh or fish will sooner corrupt in some airs than 

 in others. They be noble experiments that can make 

 this discovery ; for they serve for a natural divination 

 of seasons, better than the astronomers can by their 

 figures : and again, they teach men where to chuse 

 their dwelling for their better health. 



Experiment solitary touching increasing of milk in 

 milch beasts. 



778. There is a kind of stone about Bethlehem, 

 which they grind to powder, and put into water, 

 whereof cattle drink, which maketh them give more 

 milk. Surely there would be some better trials made 



