The works of Francis Bacon, lord chancellor of England.

CENT. VII. NATURAL HISTORY. 87
more clean, in some more knotty, and it is a good nevertheless south winds are also found to do hurt,
trial to try it by speaking at one end, and laying especially in the blossoming time, and the more
the ear at the other: for if it be knotty, the voice if showers follow. It seemeth they call forth the
will not pass well. Some have the veins more moisture too fast. The west winds are the best.
varied and chambletted, as oak, whereof wainscot It hath been observed also, that green and open
is made; maple, whereof trenchers are made: winters do hurt trees, insomuch as if two or
some more smooth, as fir and walnut: some do three such winters come together, almond-trees
more easily breed worms and spiders, some more and some other trees will die. The cause is
hardly, as it is said of Irish trees: besides there the same with the former, because the lust of
be a number of differences that concern their the earth over-spendeth itself: howsoever some
use; as oak, cedar, and chestnut are the best other of the ancients have commended warm
builders; some are best for plough-timber, as ash; winters.
some for piers, that are sometimes wet and some- 663. Snows lying long cause a fruitful year;
times dry, as elm; some for planchers, as deal; for first they keep in the strength of the earth;
some for tables, cupboards, and desks, as walnut; secondly, they water the earth better than rain:
some for ship timber, as oaks that grow in moist for, in snow, the earth doth, as it were, suck the
grounds, for that maketh the timber tough, and water as out of the teat: thirdly, the moisture
not apt to rift with ordnance; wherein English of snow is the finest moisture, for it is the froth
and Irish timber are thought to excel: some for of the cloudy waters.
masts of ships, as fir and pine, because of their 664. Showers, if they come a little before the
length, straightness, and lightness: some for ripening of fruits, do good to all succulent and
pale, as oak; some for fuel, as ash, and so of the moist fruits; as vines, olives, pomegranates;
rest. yet it is rather for plenty than for goodness; for
659. The coming of trees and plants in certain the best wines are in the driest vintages: small
regions, and not in others, is sometimes casual: showers are likewise good for corn, so as parching
for many have been translated, and have prospered heats come not upon them. Generally night
well; as damask-roses, that have not been known showers are better than day showers, for that the
in England above a hundred years, and now sun followeth not so fast upon them; and we see
are so common. But the liking of plants in cer- even in watering by the hand, it is best in sumtain soils more than in others is merely natural, rmer time to water in the evening.
as the fir and pine love the mountains; the pop- 665. The differences of earths, and the trial
lar, willow, sallow, and alder, love rivers and'of them, are worthy to be diligently inquired.
moist places; the ash loveth coppices, but is Theearth, that with showers doth easiliest soften,
best in standards alone; juniper iobveth chalk, is commended; and yet some earth of that kind
and so do most fruit trees; samphire groweth but will be very dry and hard before the showers.
upon rocks; reeds and osiers grow where they The earth that casteth up from the plough a. great
are washed with water; the vine loveth sides clod, is not so good as that which casteth up a
of hills, turning upon the south-east sun, &c. smaller clod. The earth that putteth forth moss
660. The putting forth of certain herbs dis- easily, and may be called mouldy, is not good.
covereth of what nature the ground where they The earth that smelleth well upon the digging,
put forth is, as wild thyme showeth good feeding- or ploughing, is commended, as containing the
ground for cattle; betony and strawberries show juice of vegetables almost already prepared.
grounds fit for wood; camomile showeth mellow It is thought by some, that the ends of low raingrounds fit for wheat. Mustard-seed growing bows fall more upon one kind of earth than upon
after the plough, showeth a good strong ground another, as it may well be; for that that earth is
also for wheat: burnet showeth good meadow, most roscid: and therefore it is commended foi
and the like. a sign of good earth. The poorness of the herbs,
661. There are found in divers countries, some it is plain, show the poorness of the earth; and
other plants that grow out of trees and plants, especially if they be in colour more dark: but
besides misseltoe: as in Syria there is an herb if the herbs show withered or blasted at the top,
called cassytas, that groweth out of tall trees, it showeth the earth to be very cold; and so doth
and windeth itself about the same tree where it the messiness of trees. The earth, whereof the
groweth, and sometimes about thorns. There is grass is soon parched with the sun, and toasted,
a kind of polypode that groweth out of trees, is commonly forced earth, and barren in its own
though it windeth not. So likewise an herb nature. The tender chessome, and mellow earth
called faunos, upon the wild olive. And an herb is the best, being mere mould, between the two
called hippophaeston upon the fuller's thorns: extremes of clay and sand, especially if it be not
which, they say, is good for the falling sickness. loamy and binding. The earth, that after rain
662. It hath been observed by some of the will scarce be ploughed, is commonly fruitful:
ancients, that howsoever cold and easterly winds for it is cleaving and full of' juice.
are thought to be great enemies to fruit, yet 666. It is strange, which is observed by som e