The works of Francis Bacon, lord chancellor of England.

CENT. V. NATURAL HISTORY. 67
more rare; and it is held that that proverb,.Sfrica the most part of experiments that concern symsemnpcr aliqucid monstri parit, cometh, for that the pathies and antipathies do. For as to plants neifmuntains of waters there being rare, divers sorts ther is there any such secret friendship or hatred
of beasts come from several parts to drink, and so as they imagine: and if we should be content to
being refreshed fall to couple, and many times call it sympathy and antipathy, it is utterly miswith several kinds. The compounding or mixture taken, for their sympathy is an antipathy, and
of kinds in plants is not found out; which, never- their antipathy is a sympathy, for it is thus:
theless, if it be possible, is more at command than W7heresoever one plant draweth such a particular
that of living creatures, for that their lust requireth juice out of the earth, as it qualifieth the earth, so
a voluntary motion; wherefore it were one of the as that juice which remaineth is fit for the other
most noble experiments touching plants to find it plant; there the neighbourhood doth good, because
out: for so you may have great variety of new the nourishments are contrary or several; but
fruits and flowers yet unknown. Grafting doth it where two plants draw much the same juice, there
not, that mendeth the fruit, or doubleth the flowers, the neighbourhood hurteth, for the one deceiveth
&c., but it hath not the power to make a new kind. the other.
For the cion ever over-ruleth the stock. 480. First, therefore, all plants that do draw
477. It hath been set down by one of the an- much nourishment from the earth, and so soak the
cients, that if you take two twigs of several fruit- earth and exhaust it, hurt all things that grow by
trees, and flat them on the sides, and then bind them; as great trees, especially ashes, and such
them close together and set them in the ground, trees as spread their roots near the top of the
they will come up in one stock; but yet they will ground. So the colewort is not an enemy, though
put forth their several fruits without any commix- that were anciently received, to the vine only; but
ture in the fruit. Wherein note by the way, that it is an enemy to any other plant, becauseit drawunity of continuance is easier to procure than unity eth strongly the fattest juice of the earth. And if
of species. It is reported also, that vines of red it be true, that the vine, when it creepeth nearthe
and white grapes being set in the ground, and the colewort will turn away, this may be, because
upper parts beingflatted and bound close together, there it findeth worse nourishment; for though the
will put forth grapes of several colours upon the root be where it was, yet, I doubt, the plant will
same branch; and grape-stones of several colours bend as it nourisheth.
within the same grape: but the more after a year 481. Where plants are of several natures, and
or two, the unity, as it seemeth, growing more draw several juices out of the earth, there, as
perfect. And this will likewise help, if from the hath been said, the one set by the other helpeth:
first uniting they be often watered, for all moisture as it is set down by divers of the ancients, that
helpeth to union. And it is prescribed also tobind rue doth prosper much, and becometh stronger,
the bud as soon as it cometh forth, as well as the if it be set by a fi- tree, which, we conceive, is
stock, at the least for a time. caused not by reason of friendship, but by extrac478. They report that divers seeds put into a tion of a contrary juice; the one drawing juice fit
clout, and laid in earth well dunged, will put up to result sweet, the other bitter. So they have
plants contiguous; which, afterwards being bound set down likewise, that a rose set by garlic is
in, their shoots will incorporate. The like is said sweeter: which likewise may be, because the
of kernels put into a bottle with a narrow mouth more fetid juice of the earth goeth into the garlic,
filled with earth. and the more odorate into the rose.
479. It is reported, that young trees of several 482. This we see manifestly, that there be
kinds set contiguous without any binding, and certain corn-flowers which come seldom or never
very often watered, in a fruitful ground, with the in other places, unless they -be set, but only
very luxury of the trees will incorporate and grow amongst corn: as the blue-bottle, a kind of
together. Which seemeth to me the likeliest yellow marygold, wild poppy, and fumitory.
means thathath yet been propounded; for that the Neither can this be, by reason of the culture of'binding doth hinder the natural swvelling of the the ground, by ploughing or furrowing; as some
tree; which, while it is in motion, doth better herbs and flowers will grow but in ditches new
unite. cast; for if the ground lie fallow and unsown,
they will not come: so as it should seem to be
Experiments in consort touching the symnpathy and the corn that qualifieth the earth, and prepareth it
antipathy ofJplants. for their growth.
There are many ancient and received traditions 483. This observation, if it holdeth, as it is
and observations touching the sympathy and anti- very probable, is of great use for the meliorating
pathy of plants; for that some will thrive best of taste in fruits and esculent herbs, and of the
growing near others, which they impute to sym- scent of flowers. For I do not doubt, but if the
pathy, and some worse, which they impute to an- fig-tree do make the rue more strong and bitter,
tipathy. But these areidle and ignorant conceits, as the ancients have noted, good store of rue
and forsake the true indication of the causes, as planted about the fig-tree will make the fig morei