The feventeenth Booke of 



G 



Chap, it, 



^ Of the nmre of the She refpeciive unto trees : and what quarter thereof 

 they Jhould regards 



TRccs generally doc like beft that ftand to the Northeaft wind : for it nourilheih then^i wcll^ 

 caufeth them to fpreadthickc and grow every way in length and breadth, and widiall ma^ 

 keth the timber more faft and ftrong. But in this rule moft men doe crre^and be much de- 

 ceived : for in underpropping VineSj the forkcs would not bee fetoppoficcagainft that wind to 

 binder the blaft thereof ja point that is to be obferved in regard of the North wind onely.More- 

 over^wee find by experience, that if trees have a kindly winter and cold feafon in their c(uc time, H 

 their wood will be more firme, and fb likewife will they bud and (hoot out bcft : otherwile, if the 

 warmeSoutherne winds blow upon them much, yec fhall have the trees prove foft and feeble, 

 and their bloflbmes come tonothing,bloumingas they doe before time.ForifitchauncCj that 

 prefcntly after their flowers be fully out and rcadie tofhcd^thcre fall any ftoreof rainc,the fruit 

 is quite gone for that ycare. And as for Almond trees and Pearetrecs,ifit be but clofe and clou- 

 die weather oncly,withoui any raine3or the wine ftand South when they flower, fure they bee to 

 ioofe their fruit.Certes,a glut of raine in May,at what time as thelBrood-heniiar called Virgilise 

 doth arilbjis exceeding hurtfull to Vines and Olive trees : for then isthe very fcafbn of their knit- 

 ting or conception. Then bee the foure flecretoiie or criticall daies^ihat give the dome of Olive 

 trees,either to good or bad: this is the Southerly point of filthiCjfoukjand glowmie weather, I 

 whcrcofwee have fpoken before. Moreovcr,all manner of graine fccleth the inconvenience of 

 Southerne wind at the time of their ripening. Well may corne make haft and ripen fooner,buc 

 it fliall never have the kind maturitie and pcrfedion as it ought. As for the cold pinching black 

 frofts and Northcrne winds, which blow out of feafon, come they early or come they late, ihcy 

 be hurtfull alLBut if the wind ftandNoriheaft in winter, there is nothing fo good generally foe 

 all fruits of the earth. And verily ,3 good (bower now and then during that timc,will do no harm; 

 and that men wilh for raine then, the rcafon is evident: for why? trees with bearing of fruit, are 

 drawnedrie and have loft their naiurall moifture^ with (bedding their leaves.they bee poore and 

 feeblcj fo that it is kind for them to be hungric then, and to have a grcedic appetite to new food, 

 which is raine. Now if the winter be open and warme withall,that fo foonc as the trees have done K 

 bcaringjthey reft not betwcenCjbut conceive againeprcfently upon it (that is to fay,bud & %urE 

 anewjycajand fall afrefh to bloflTome, whereby they have another evacuation that way alfo, to 

 fpend their fap and radical! moifture)we find by experiencc,that there is nothingin the world fo 

 bad for them. Nay, if many fuch yeares come together,immediately one after another, the veric 

 trees themfelves will die : for who can looke for better, when they arc thus pined and famifhed ? 

 He then ^whofoever he was that (aid. Husbandmen were to wilh for faire winters : furely hee was 

 no friend therein to trees, nor never praied for them : neither arc wet midfummers good for 

 Vines. But in truthjThat winter duft fliould caufe plentifull harvcft, was a word fpoken in a bra- 

 veric,and proceeding from a pregnant wit and joUie Ipirit : For otherwife,who knoweth not,that 

 every man(wifhing well to trees and corne indifferently)praicth,That fnow might lie long upon I* 

 the ground ? The rcafon is,for that not only it keepeth in and enclofeth the vitall breath & ibulc 

 (if I may fo fay) of the earth,readie to exhale out and vanifh away, yca,and driveth it back again 

 into the blade and root of coine,redoubling therby the force and vigor thereof: but alfb becaufe 

 it bothyeeldeth liquourand moifture thereunto gently by little and little,and the famewithall 

 fine,purc,andpaffing]ight:confidcring,thatfnowis nothingclfc butthefomc orfroth of raine- 

 water from heaven.This humor therefore,not falling forcibly all at once to drowne the root, nc 

 yet wailiing away the earth from it (but diftillingdrop-mcale a litdc at once, in that proportion 

 and meafure as thirft requireth and calleth for it)nourifheth all things,asfrom a teat or pap^noii- 

 rifheth(Ifay)and neither drencheth nor ovcrfloweth them. The earth alfo for her part, by this 

 mcanes well foaked, fwellcth and hooveth as it were with a leaven,and lieth thereby more light M 

 and mcllow:thus being full of juice and moifture it felfe,& not barren, but well replenifhed with 

 feeds fowne, and plants fuckled^thus continually in her wombswhen the open time of the fpring 

 is once come to diicharge her,ll3e fheweih her fclfe frefh and gay,and willingly cntertaineth the 

 wanne weather of that leafon. 



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