Century VII.
am apt enough to think, that this ſame Binarium of a ſtronger and a weaker,
like unto Maſculine and Feminine, doth hold in all Living Bodies. It is con-
founded ſometimes; as in ſome Creatures of Putrefaction, wherein no marks
of diſtinction appear; and it is doubled ſometimes, as in Hermaphrodites: but generally there is a degtee of ſtrength in moſt Species.
The Participles or Confiners between Plants and Living Creatures, are
ſuch chiefly as are fixed, and have not Local Motion of remove; though
they have a Motion in their parts, ſuch as are Oyſters, Cockles, and ſuch like,
There is a fabulous Narration, That in the Northern Countreys there ſhould be
an Herb that groweth in the likeneſs of a Lamb, and feedethupon the Graſs,
in ſuch ſort, as it will bear the Graſs round about. But, I ſuppoſe, that the
Figure maketh the Fable; for ſo weſee there be Bee-flowers, & c. And as
for the Graſs, it ſeemeth the Plant, having a greatſtalk and top, doth prey
upon the Graſs a good way about, by drawing the Juyce of the Earth
from it.
THe Indian Fig boweth his Roots down ſolow in one year, as of it ſelf it
taketh Rootagain; and ſo multiplieth from Root to Root, making of
one Tree a kinde of Wood. The cauſe is, the plenty of the Sap, and the
ſoftneſs of the ſtalk, which maketh the Bough, being over-loaden, and not
ſtiffly upheld, weigh down. It hath Leaves as broad as a little Target, but
the Fruitno biggerthan Beans. The cauſe is, for that the continual ſhade in-
creaſeth the Leaves, and abateth the Fruit; which nevertheleſs is of a plea-
ſant taſte. And that (no doubt) is cauſed, by the ſuppleneſs and gentleneſs
of the Juyce of that Plant, being that which maketh the Boughs alſo ſo
flexible.
30.1.
610.
Experiments
Promiſcuous
touching
Plants.
It is reported by one of the Ancients, that there is a certain Indian Tree,
having few, but very great Leaves, three cubits long, and two broad; and
that the Fruit being of good taſte, groweth out of the Bark. It may be, there
be Plants that pour out the Sap ſo faſt, as they have no leiſure, either to divide
into many Leaves, or to put forth Stalks to the Fruit. With us Trees gene-
rally have ſmall Leaves in compariſon. The Fig hath the greateſt, and next
it the Vine, Mulberry, and Sycamore, and the leaſt are thoſe of the Willow, Birch,
and Thorn. But there be found Herbs with far greater Leaves than any Tree; as the Bur, Gourd, Cucumber, and Colewort. The cauſe is, (like to that of the in-
dian Fig) the haſty and plentiful putting forth of the Sap.
There be three things in uſe for ſweetneſs, Sugar, Honey, Manna. For
Sugar, to the Ancients it was ſcarce known, and little uſed. It is found in
Canes; Quære, whether to the firſt Knuckle, or further up? and whether the
very Bark of the Cane it ſelf do yield Sugar, or no? For Honey, the Bee
maketh it, or gathereth it; but I have heard from one, that was induſtrious
in Husbandry, that the labor of the Bee is about the Wax, and that he hath
known in the beginning of May, Honey-Combs empty of Honey, and within
a fortnight, when the ſweet Dews fall, filled like a Cellar. It is reported by
ſome of the Ancients, that there is a Tree called Occhus, in the Valleys of Hyr-
cania, that diſtilleth Honey in the Mornings. It is not unlike, that the Sap
and Tears of ſome Trees may be ſweet. It may be alſo, that ſome ſweet Juy-
ces, fit for many uſes, may be concocted out of Fruits, to the thickneſs of
Honey, or perhaps of Sugar; the likelieſt are Raſins of the Sun, Figs, and
Corrans: The Means may be enquired.
The Ancients report of a Tree, by the Perſian Sea, upon the Shore-ſands,