Qentury VII. 



There are two Excrefcences, which grow upon T rets , Both of them in the 

 Nature of Mitjhromes • The one the Romans called Boletus , Which grow- 

 eth upon the Roots of Oaks, And was one of the Dainties or their Table ; 

 The other is Medicinally that is called Agarick, (whereof we have fpoken 

 before,) which groweth upon the Tops of Oakes, Though it be affirmed 

 by fome, that it groweth alfo at the Roots. I do conceive, that mmy Ex- 

 crefcenfes Trees grow chiefly, wh^re the Tree is dead, or hided 5 For 

 that the Naturall Sap of the Tree, corrupteth into fome Prenaturall Sub- 

 fiance. 



The greater part of Trees bear Mofi, and B eft, on the Lower Boughs 5 As 

 0^^, Walt- Nuts, P cares, &c. But fome bear on the T op-Boughs , 

 As Crabs, Sec. Thofe that bear beft below, are fuch, as Shade doth more 

 good to than Hurt. For generally all Fruitsbear beft loweft Becaufe the 

 Sap itreth not,having but a flaort Way.- And therefore in Fruits fpread 

 uponWalls, the Lovveft are the Greateft, as was formerly faid So it is the 

 Shade that hindereth the Lower- Boughs , Except it be in fuch Trees -,as delight 

 in Shade-,Or at leaft bear it well. And therefore, they are either Strong T rees 

 as the Oak -, Or elfe they have large Leaves , as the Wallnut and Fig ; Or elfe, 

 they grow in Pyramid- , as the Pear. But if they require very much Sun, they 

 bear beft on the T of , as it is Crabs, Apples, Plums, dec. 



There be Trees, that bear beft, when they begin to be Old -, As Almonds, 

 Pe ares, Fines, 2nd all T rees, that QVt Maft. The Caufe is, for that all T rees, 

 that bear Maft, have an oyly Fruit; hndToung Trees, have a moreJW;^ 

 Juycefind lefs Conceded •, And of the fame kind alfo is the Almond. The 

 Pear Hkewife,though it be not Oylie, yet it requireth much Sap, and well 

 Concocted- For we fee it is aHeavie Fruit and Solid-, Much more that 

 Apple s, Plums, dec. AsfortheF^y itis no'ted, that it beareth more Grapes 

 when it is T oung ; But Grapes that make better Wine, when it is old ; For 

 that the faice is better Concoc~ted .• And we fee, that Wine is Inflammable , 

 So as it hath a kind of Oyltnefs. But the molt Part of T rees, amongft 

 which are Apples, Plums, &c. bear beft when they are Toung. 



There be Plants, that have a Milkin them, when they are Cut • As Figs, 

 old- Lettuce, Sovo-Thi files, Spurge, &c. The Caufe may be an Inception of Pu - 

 trefacJion ; For thole Milks have all an Acrimony ; Though one would think 

 they fhould be Lenitive. For if you write upon Paper, with the Milk of the 

 Fig, the Letters will not be feen, untill you hold the Paper before the Fire, 

 and then they wax B:own-,which fheweth that it is a Sharp or Fretting f-uyce: 

 Lettuce is thought Poyfonous. when it is fo 0/<af,as to have Milk, Spurge is 

 a kind of poyfon in it Self-, And as for Sovo-Thi files, though Coneys 

 eat them.yet Sheep and Cattel will not touch them And befides, the Mtlk 

 of them, rubbed upon Warts, infhort time, weareth them away : Which 

 fheweth the Milk of them to be Corroftve. W e fee alfo, that Wheat, and c- 

 ther Co n[own, if you take them forth of the Ground, before they fprout,' 

 are full otMilk ; And the Beginning of Germination is ever a Kind of Putre- 

 faction of the Seed. Eupborbitim alio hath a Milk, though not very white, 

 which is of a great Acrimony. And Saladme hath a yellow Milk,\\\\\c\\ hath 

 likewife much Acrimony ; For it cleanfeth the Eyes. It is good alio for Ca- 

 taracts. 



Mufhromes are reported to grow, as well upon the Bodies of Trees, as upon 

 their Roots, or upon the Earth : And efpecially upon the Oak. The Caufe is, 

 for that ftrong Trees are towards fuch Excrejcenfes, in the Nature of Earth ; 

 And therefore put forth Mojs;Mujbromes, and the like, 

 1 There 



