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ALl Plants, herbs, shrubs and Trees have their worms: a worm in the root is deadly. For let the Tree be what it will, and flourish, yet this will make it wither, saith Aldrovandus l. 6. de Insect. c. 4. And there are sure witnesses, that in the roots of Okes such ve∣nomous Worms will breed, that if you should but tread on them
with the sole of your foot, it would fetch off the skin. There are small white ones found in the sponge of the sweet bryer, which is outwardly soft and hairy, but inwardly so hard and so solid a substance, that a sharp instrument will hardly peirce it. In the white Daffodill, some are bred, which are changed into another flying and beautifull creature, which when the herb begins to flou∣rish, presently eats through the cover, and flyes away. Pliny, l. 20. c. 6. writes, that some think that Basil chewed and laid in the Sun will breed Worms. If you bruise the green shells of Wallnuts, and put them into the water, and then sprinkle them with earth, Worms will breed in abundance, that are good for Fishers, Carol. Stephan, Agricultur, l. 3. c. 34. But Theophrastus 5, de caus. Plant. saith, that a Worm beed in one Tree, and put into another, will not live. Joa∣chimus Fortius reports that he saw some who affirmed that from a hazel nut that had a Worm in it, there grew a Serpent for magnitude and forme. For the nut being opened so farr as the Worm, and the Worm not being hurt, they put the nut into milk, and set the vessel of milk in the Sun, yet so that the Worm was not beaten upon by the Sun; wherefore, on that side the Sun shined, they covered the Vessel, and so nourished the Worm many days. Afterward adding more Milk, they set it to the Sun again. The milk must be sheeps milk. Also they report, that a Worm is found in the leaves of Rue, nourished the same way, that lived 20, days. Theophrastus writes of the cause of them, plainly and fully. His words are these. Ill diseases happen to all seeds, from nutriment and distemper of the Ayre, namely when too much or too little nourishment is afforded, or the Ayre is immoderately moyst or dry, or else when it doth not rayne seasonably. For so Worms breed in chiches, vetches, and pease; and in rocket-seeds, when as hot weather falls upon them before they be dried; but in Chiches, when the salt is taken from them, and they become sweet. For nature doth every where breed a living creature, if there be heat and moysture in due proportion. For matter comes from moysture for the heat to work on, and concoct; as we see it happens in Wheat. Worms will breed in the root of it, when, after seed time, Southern winds blow often. Then the root growing moyst, and the Ayre being hot, the heat corrupting the root, ingendreth Worms. And the Worms bred, eat the roots, continually. For nature hath appointed that everything shall feed where it is bred. Another kind of Worm is bred within, when the moysture cannot come forth, shut in by the drinesse of the Ayre about it, then the heat con∣tracts it, when the corruption is made. Then also food is administred to it, from the same thing. The same thing seems to happen to Apples and Trees that are Worm-eaten from drought. For the little moysture that remains in the Tree, causeth corruption, whence the Worm proceeds; but when there is plenty of nutriment it is otherwise, for then the juyce is sent forth to the up∣per parts, for it conquers by its quantity, and cannot corrupt. Next to this is that which happens to Vines, for in these especially when the South wind blows, Worms breed, that are called Ipes, that is when they are very moyst, and the Ayre causeth fruitfullnesse, then do they presently gnaw the matter that is of the same nature with them. Also Carpae breed in Olive Trees the
same way, and such as breed in other things, both when they bud, and when they flowre, or after that the flowers be over. For the•• all proceed from the same cause. But this chiefly happens to Vines because 〈…〉〈…〉 are moyst by nature, and their moysture is without tast and watery. 〈…〉〈…〉 a moysture, may be ea∣sily affected. Somtimes Ipes cannot be bred, because the ayre it pleasant and not too moyst.