i oi I S^aturall Hi/lory * 



Where Plants are of feverall Natures, and draw feverall Juyces out of 

 the Earth, there ( as hath been faid ) the One fet by the other helpeth : As it 

 is fet down by divers of the Ancients, that Km doth profper much, and be- 

 cometh ftronger, if it be fet by 3 Figge-Tree : Which (we conceive) is 

 caufed, not by reafon of Fnendflnp, but by Extraction oi contrary Juyces : 

 The one Drawing Juyce fit to relult Sweet, the other Bitter. So they have 

 fet down likewife, that a Roje fet by Garlick is fweeter : Which likewile may 

 be, becaufe the more Fetfcfe Juyce of the Earth goeth into the Gar lid, and 

 the more Odorate into the Rofe. 



This we fee manifeftly, that there be certain Corn-Flowers, which come 

 feldome or never in other places, unlefs they be fet, but onely amongft 

 Corner As the Blew- Bottle, a kinde of Tellow Mary- gold \Wilde Poppy, and 

 Fumitory. Neither can this be, by reafon of the Culture of the Ground, by 

 Plowing or Furrowing, as fome Herbs and Flowers will grow but in Ditches 

 new Caft, for if the ground lie fallow and unfown, they will not come : So 

 as it mould feem to be the Cw», that qualifieth the Earth, and prepareth it 

 for their Growth. 



This Obfervation, if it holdeth, ( as it is very probable,) is of great ufe, 

 for the Meliorating oiTajl in Fruits^ and Esculent Herbs ^ f And of the Sent off 

 Flowers. For I do not doubt, but if the \Figge-T ree do make the Re w more 

 ftrong, and bitter, ( as the Ancients have noted, ) good ftore of Rew planted 

 about the Figg-Tree, will make the Figge more fweet. Now the Tafts that 

 do moft offend in Fruits, and Herbs, and Roots , are Bitter, Harfh, Sowre, 

 and Watrifh, or Flajhy. It were good therefore to make the T rials following. 



Take Wormwood, on Rew, and fet it near Lettuce, or Coleflory, ox Arti- 

 choak -y And fee whether the Lettuce, or the Coleflorie, &c. become not the 

 fweeter. 



Take a Service-T ree, ox a C ornelian-T ree, ox an Elder T ree, which we know 

 have Fruits of harm and binding Juyce , and fet them near a Fine or Fig- 

 Tree, and fee whether the Graces or Figs, will not be the fweeter. 



Take Cucumbers, ox Pump ions, and fet them(here and there)amongft Musk- 

 Melons, and fee whether the Melons will not be more Winy,and better tafted. 

 Set Cucumbers ( likewife ) amongft Radtjh, and fee whether the Radijh, will 

 not be made the more Biting. 



Take Sorrell, and fet it amongft Rafts, and fee whether the Rafps will not 

 be the fweeter. 



Take Common- Briar, and fet it amongft Violets, or Wall- Flowers, and fee 

 whether it will not make the Violets, or Wall-Flowers fweeter,and lefs earthy 

 in their Smell. So fet Lettuce, or Cucumbers, amongft Rofemary, or Bayes,and 

 fee whether the R ofemary, or Bayes, will not be the more Odorate, or Aro- 

 maticall. 



Contrariwife, you muft take heed how you fet Herbs together, that draw 

 much the like Juyce. And therefore I think Rofemary will leefe in Sweet- 

 nefs^ if it be fet with Lavender^ or Bayes^ or the like. But yet, if you will 

 correct the ftrength of an Herb, you (hall do well to fet other like Herbs by 

 him, to take him down And if you would fet Tanfey by Angelica, it may 

 be, the Angelica would be the weaker, and fitter for Mixture in Perfume. 

 And if you mould fet Rew by Common-Wormwood, it may be, the Wormwood 

 would turn to be liker Roman-Wormwood. 



This Axiom is of large extent h And therefore would be fevered, and refi- 

 ned by Try all. Neither muft you expedt to have a Grof Difference by this 

 kind of Culture, but only Furthee Perfection. 



Trial! 



