The works of Francis Bacon, lord chancellor of England.

88 NATURAL HISTORY. CENT. VII.
of the ancients, that dust helpeth the fruitfulness times they are forced to resow summer corn
of trees, and of vines by name; insomuch as where they sowed winter corn. Another ill acthey cast dust upon them of purpose. It should cident is bitter frosts continued without snow,
seem, that that powdering, when a shower com- especially in the beginning of the winter, after
eth, imaketh a kind of soiling to the tree, being the seed is new sown. Another disease is worms,
earth and water finely laid on. And they note, which sometimes breed in the root, and happen
that countries where the fields and ways are upon hot suns and showers immediately after the
dusty bear the best vines. sowing; and another worm breedeth in the ear
667. It is commended by the ancients for an itself, especially when hot suns break often out of
excellent help to trees, to lay the stalks and leaves clouds. Another disease is weeds, and they are
of lupins about the roots, or to plough them into such as either choke and over-shadow the corn,
the ground where you will sow corn. The burn- and bear it down, or starve the corn, and deceive
ing also of the cuttings of vines, and casting them it of nourishment. Another disease is over-rankupon land, doth much good. And it was gener- ness of the corn; which they use to remedy by
ally received of old, that dunging of grounds mowing it after it is come up, or putting sheep into
when the west wind bloweth, and in the decrease it. Another ill accident is laying of corn with
of the moon, doth greatly help; the earth, as it great rains, near or in harvest. Another ill acciseemeth, being then more thirsty and open to dent is, if the seed happen to have touched oil,
receive the dung. or any thing that is fat; for those substances
668. The grafting of vines upon vines, as I have an antipathy with nourishment of water.
take it, is not now in use: the ancients had it, 670. The remedies of the diseases of corn
and that three ways; the first was incision, which have been observed as followeth. The steeping
is the ordinary manner of grafting: the second of the grain, before sowing, a little time in wine,
was terebration through the middle of the stock, is thought a preservative: the mingling of seed
and putting in the cions there: and the third was corn with ashes is thought to be good: the sowing
pairing of two vines that grow together to the at the wane of the moon is thought to make the
marrow, and binding them close. corn sound: it hath not been practised, but it is
6G9. The disease and ill accidents of corn are thought to be of use to make some miscellane in
worthy to be inquired; and would be more worthy corn, as if you sow a few beans with wheat, your
to be inquired, if it were in men's power to help wheat will be the better. It hath been observed
them, whereas many of them are not to be reme- that the sowing of corn with housleek doth good.
died. The mildew is one of the greatest, which, Though grain that toucheth oil or fat receiveth
out of question, cometh by closeness of air; and hurt, yet the steeping of it in the dregs of oil,
therefore in hills, or large champaign grounds, it when it beginneth to putrefy, which they call
seldom cometh; such as is withus York's woald. amurca, is thought to assure it against worms.
This cannot be remedied, otherwise than that in It is reported also, that if corn be mowed, it will
countries of small enclosure the ground be turned make the grain longer, but emptier, and having
into larger fields: which I have known to do more of the husk.
good in some farms. Another disease is the 671. It hath been noted, that seed of a year
putting forth of wild oats, whereinto corn often- old is the best, and of two or three years is
times, especially barley, doth degenerate. It worse, and that which is more old is quite barren;
happeneth chiefly from the weakness of the grain though, no doubt, some seeds and grains last
that is sown; for if it be either too old or mouldy, better than others. The corn which in-the vanning
it will bring forth wild oats. Another disease is lieth lowest is the best; and the corn which
the satiety of the ground; for if you sow one broken or bitten retaineth a little yellowness, is
ground still with the same corn, I mean not the better than that which is very white.
same corn that grew upon the same ground, but 672. It hath been observed, that of all roots
the same kind of grain, as wheat, barley, &c. of herbs, the root of sorrel goeth the farthest into
it will prosper but poorly: therefore besides the the earth; insomuch that it hath been known to
resting of the ground, you must vary the seed. go three cubits deep: and that it is the root that
Another ill accident is from the winds, which continueth fit longest to be set again, of any root
hurt at two times; at the flowering, by shaking that groweth. It is a cold and acid herb, that,
off the flowvers, and at the full ripening, by shaking as it seemeth loveth the earth, and is not much
out the corn. Another ill accident is drought, drawn by the sun.
at the spindling of the corn, which with us is 673. It hath been observed, that some herbs
rare, but in hotter countries common; insomuch likebestbeing watered with salt water: as radish,
as the word calamitas was first derived from beet, rue, pennyroyal; this trial would be extended
calamus, when the corn could not get out of the to some other herbs; especially such as are
stalk. Another ill accident is over-wet at sowing strong, as tarragon, mustard-seed, rocket, and the
time, which with us breedeth much dearth, inso- like.
much as the corn never cometh up; and many I 674. It is strange that is generally received,