The historie of the vvorld: commonly called, The naturall historie of C. Plinius Secundus. Translated into English by Philemon Holland Doctor of Physicke. The first [-second] tome

CHAP. XIIII.

¶ Of Lupines.

AFter Rapes and Turneps, the Lupines haue greatest vse, and serue to be raunged next: for that they indifferently serue both men and also all foure footed beasts that be houfed, ei∣ther whole or clouen. Now for that the stalke is very shittle in mowing, and therefore fly∣eth from the edge of the syth, the onely remedie therefore (that the mower may catch it) is to goe to worke presently after a good shower. And verily there is not a plant growing vpon the [unspec D] earth (I meane of such as are sowne of seed) more admirable than the Lupine, in regard of the great amity and sympathie betweene the earth and it. Looke how the Sun keepeth his course in our Horizon aboue, so doth it turne and go withall; insomuch as the Husbandmen of the coun∣trey go by no other clocke to know how the day passeth, in close and cloudie weather, than this obseruation. Moreouer, it hath three seasons of blowming: it loueth the earth well, but yet wil∣lingly it would not be couered ouer with mould: for this is the onely seed that is sowne vpon ground without any ploughing or digging: it would grow to chuse, in a most grauelly, drie, and sandy soile, and in no case can it abide any tending or husbandry about it: so affected is it to the earth, that cast it vpon any rough ground, among bushes, leaues, briers and brambles, it will chit and spurt neuerthelesse, & neuer lin til it take root within the earth. If Lupines be sowed either in vineyards or vpon corne lands they inrich the same and make the ground better, as we haue [unspec E] before written: and so little need haue they of dung, that they stand in stead of the very best. To say a truth, there is no graine lesse chargeable to be sowne, than it; nay there is none costeth nought at all, but it; for it needeth not so much as to be brought into the field: and why? it sow∣eth it selfe presently in the same field where it grew: and s•…•…edding as it doth of the own accord, a man neuer needs to cast and throw it vpon the land, as other corne. It is first sowne, and last ga∣thered: and lightly both these seasons fall out in the moneth of September; for if the Seed-nes preuent not the winter, so as it may haue good root before it commeth, it will be in danger of the cold. Ouer and besides, if it chance to lie bare and vncouered aboue-ground, left carelessely without any keeping, and that no raine come vpon it presently for to driue it into the ground, it is safe enough and catcheth no harme; for so bitter it is, that no liuing creature will touch it: [unspec F] and yet for the most part the husbandmen bestow a light furrow vpon it, and so couer it verie shallow. If the ground be fast and heauie, it loueth that •…•…est which standeth vpon a red clay. And for the maintaining and inriching of this kind of soile, it must be turned vp or eared

after the third flouring; but in case it be grauelly or sandy, it wil serue to do it after the second. [unspec G] Chalkie grounds onely and myrie it hateth, and therein it wil not grow. As bitter as otherwise it is, yet if it be steeped and soked in hot water, it is mans meat also. Moreouer, one Modius, or pecke of Lupines is sufficient for to satisfie and feed an Oxe or a cow at a time: and this kind of prouender will make beasts strong and healthfull. Moreouer, the meale of Lupines applied to the bellies of yong children that haue the wormes, is a singular remedy. For the good keeping of Lupines, all men agree that they should be laid vp in some chimney or smokie place especi∣ally; for if they lie in a moist roome, there be certain little worms that wil nibble off and eat the tip or nauill that it hath, and by that meanes marre it for euer sprouting againe. Finally, if Lu∣pines be eaten downe by beasts, while they be greene in the leafe, the ground where they grew must presently be ploughed vp. [unspec H]