Full text: Bacon, Francis: Sylva sylvarum

26. NATURAL
HISTORY

Century V.

WE will now enquire of Plants or Vegetables; and we ſhall
do it with diligence. They are the principal part of
the Third days Work; they are the firſt Producat, which
is the word of Animation, for the other words are but
the words of Eſſence; and they are of excellent and
generaluſe, For Food, Medicine, and a number of Medi-
cinal Arts.

26.1.

Experiments
in Conſort,
touching the
Acceleration
of Germinati-
on.

There were ſown in a Bed, Turnip ſeed, Raddiſh-ſeed, Wheat, Cucumber-ſeed,
and Peaſe. The Bed we call a Hot-bed, and the manner of it is this. There
was taken Horſe-dung, old, and well rotted; this was laid upon a Bank
half a foot high, and ſupported round about with Planks; and upon the
top was caſt ſifred Earth, ſome two fingers deep; and then the Seed
ſprinkled upon it, having been ſteeped all night in Water mixed with Cow-
dung. The Turnip-ſeed, and the VVneat, came up half an inch above ground,
within two days after, without any watering; the reſt the third day. The
Experiment was made in October, and (it may be) in the Spring, the Accele-
rating would have been the ſpeedier. This is a noble Experiment; for,
without this help, they would have been four times as long in coming up. But there doth not occur to me, at this preſent, any uſe thereof, for pro-
fit, except it ſhould be for Sowing of Peaſe, which have their price very
much increaſed by the early coming. It may be tryed alſo with Cher-
ries, Strawberries, and other Fruit which are deareſt, when they come
early.

26.1.

401.
Note:

There was Wheat ſteeped in Water mixed with Cow dung, other in
Water mixed with Horſe-dung, other in Water mixed with Pigeon-dung,

Waiting...

Note to user

Dear user,

In response to current developments in the web technology used by the Goobi viewer, the software no longer supports your browser.

Please use one of the following browsers to display this page correctly.

Thank you.

powered by Goobi viewer