OAT. 7 



suaded that these grains would change into 

 others. 



Lord Bacon says, " There is an opinion 

 in the country, that if the same ground be 

 ofc sown with grain that grew upon it, it will 

 in the end, grow to be a baser kind. It is 

 certain, that in sterile years, corn sown will 

 grow to be another kind. 



Grandia ssepe quibus mandavimus Hordea sulcis, 

 Infelix Lolium, et steriles dominantur Avense ; 



and generally it is a rule, that plants that 

 are brought forth by culture, as corn, will 

 sooner change into other species than those 

 that came of themselves ; for culture giveth 

 but an adventitious nature, which is more 

 easily put off." 



The same author says, in his sixth Century, 

 " The rule is certain, that plants for want of 

 culture degenerate to be baser in the same 

 kind, and sometimes so far as to change into 

 another kind. 1st. The standing long, and not 

 being removed, maketh them degenerate : 

 secondly, Drought, unless the earth of itself 

 be moist, doth the like : thirdly, So doth re- 

 moving into worse earth, or forbearing to 

 compost the earth; as we see that water-mint 

 turneth into field-mint, and colewort into 

 rape, by neglect, &c." 



