7© I J\(aturall Hijlory 



316 



317 



318 



3*9 



320 



321 



322 



3 2 3 



3 2 4 



quick: for the Cold doth not caufe any Exhaling of the Spirits at all 3 As 

 i^doth, though it rarifieth the reft that remain : But Cold maketh the 

 Spirits vigorous, and irritateth them, whereby they incorporate the Parts 

 of the Liquottr perfectly. 



As for the Maturation of Fruits 3 It is wrought by the Calling forth of the 

 Spirits of the Body outward,znd fo Spreading trie m more jmoothly : And like- 

 wife by Digefiingim fome degree, the Grcfjer Parts : And this is ErTe&ed,by 

 Heat 3 Motion 3 Attraction-, And by a Rudiment of Putrefaction : For the In- 

 ception of Putrefaction hath in it a Maturation. 



There were taken Apples >and laid in Sfr/tw 3 In Hay, In Flower; In Cfatt} 

 In &2W3 Covered over with Onions-, Covered over with Od&f g Clofed up 

 in Wan 3 Shut in a £0*, ejrc. There was alfo an Apple hanged up in Smoak : 

 Of all which the Experiment forted in this Manner: 



After a Moneths Space, the Apple Enclofed in Wax, was as Green and 

 Frefhasatthe firft Putting in, and the KerneUs continued White. The 

 Caufe IS) for that all Exclufion of Open Air, (which is ever Predatory) main- 

 tained the Body in his firft Frefbnefs, and Moifture : But the Inconvenience 

 is,that it tafteth a little of the Wax : Which, I fuppofe, in a Pomgranate, or 

 fome fuch thick coated Fruit, it would not do. 



The Apple Hanged in the/»^,turned like an OldMellow Apple Wrink- 

 led,Dry,Soft,Sweet, Yellow within. The Caufe is,- for that fuch a degree 

 of Heat, which doth neither Melt, nor Scorch, (for we fee that in a greater 

 Heat, a Roafi Apple Softneth and Melteth, And Pigs feet, made of Quarters 

 of Wardens 3 fcortch and have a skinof Cole) doth Mellow,and not Adure : 

 The Smoak alfo maketh the Apple (as it were) fprinkled with Soot, which 

 he\ytt\\ to Mature. We fee that in Drying of Peares, and Prunes, in the O- 

 ven, and Removing of them often as they begin to Sweat, there is a like 

 Operation 3 But that is with a farre more Intenfe degree of Heat. 



The Apples covered in the Lime and Afhes, were well Matured, As ap- 

 peared both in their Yellownefs, and Sweetnefs. The Caufe is, for that 

 that Degree of Heat which is in Lime and Afhes, (being a fmoothering Heat) 

 is of alfthe reft moft Proper' 3 for it doth neither Liquefie, nor Arefie 3 And 

 that is true Maturation. Note that the Taft of thofe Apples was good3 And' 

 therefore it is the Experiment fitteft for Ufe. 



The Apples Covered with Crabs, and Onions, were likewife well Matured. 

 The Cauie is, not any Heat 3 But for that the Crabs and the Onions draw 

 f orth the Spirits of the Apple, and fpread them equally thorowout the Body 3 

 which taketh away Hardnefs. So we fee one Apple ripeneth againft another. 

 And therefore in making of Cider, they turn the Apples firft upon a heap. 

 Soonc Clufterot Grapes, that toucheth another whileft it groweth, ripeneth 

 fafter Botrus contra Botrum citing maiurefcit. 



The Apples in Hay, and the Stratv,ri$ened apparently, though not fo much 

 as the Other 3 But the Apple in the Straw more. The Cauje is, for that the 

 Hay and Straw have a very low degree of Heat, but yet Clofe and Smoo- 

 thering, and which drieth not. 



The Apple in the clofe Box, was ripened alfo : The Caufe is, for that all 

 Air,kept clofe,hath a degree of Warmth ? As we fee in Wool, Fur, Plujh, ejrc. 



Note that all the fe were Compared with another Apple, cf the fame kind,that% 

 lay of it Self : Andin Compart fon of that, were more Sweet, and more Yellow, 

 andfoappearedtobe more Ripe. ■ 



Take an Affile, or Pear, or other like Fruit, mdRowlek upon a Table 

 hard: We fee in Common Experience, that the Rowling doth Soften and 



Sweeten 



