462 NATURAL HISTORY. 



effect. For it hath been observed, that in pollards, if 

 the water get in on the top, and they become hollow, 

 they put forth the more. We add also, that it is de 

 livered for certain by some, that if the cion be grafted 

 the small end downwards, it will make fruit have 

 little or no cores and stones. 



Experiment solitary touching the melioration of 

 tobacco. 



855. Tobacco is a thing of great price, if it be in 

 request : for an acre of it will be worth, as is affirmed 

 two hundred pounds by the year towards charge. 

 The charge of making the ground and otherwise is 

 great, but nothing to the profit ; but the English to 

 bacco hath small credit, as being too dull and earthy : 

 nay, the Virginian tobacco, though that be in a 

 hotter climate, can get no credit for the same cause : 

 so that a trial to make tobacco more aromatical, and 

 better concocted, here in England, were a thing of 

 great profit. Some have gone about to do it by 

 drenching the English tobacco in a decoction or in 

 fusion of Indian tobacco ; but those are but sophis 

 tications and toys ; for nothing that is once perfect, 

 and hath run his race, can receive much amendment. 

 You must ever resort to the beginnings of things 

 for melioration. The way of maturation of tobacco 

 must, as in other plants, be from the heat either of 

 the earth or of the sun: we see some leading of 

 this in musk-melons, which are sown upon a hot-bed 

 dunged below, upon a bank turned upon the south 

 sun, to give heat by reflection ; laid upon tiles, which 



