Divers Rural and Oeconomical Inquiries, Recommended to Observation and Tryal

We have no Minerals, that we know; only Store of Brimstone, of which we send out every Year two Ships Lading. I had almost forgot to acquaint you with a very remarkable Observation made in the Year 1642, on the thirteenth of May, which is, that then all the Sea, which beats upon our Promontories, was for two Days so pellucid and shining, that Shells and the least Stones could be seen at the Bottom, where the Sea was forty Fathoms deep; insomuch that the said Objects seem'd to be no further than three Foot distant from the Sides of our Fishermen's Boats, who, when they saw it, were so frighted at it, that they presently came in, and notified this all over the Country. It began in the Morning about nine of the Clock; and the whole witnessed by divers very honest and credible Men. Divers Rural and Oeconomical Inquiries, recommended to Observation and Tryal. 1. Whether such Trees as are inoculated in February, are free from all Worms; both themselves and their Fruit: as is believed by many? 2. Whether it be true, that Cions taken off from young Trees, which never yet blossom'd, be not good to engraft, and do never come to bear? 3. Whether Cions of Fruit-Trees grafted upon Forrest-Trees will prosper and bear? Some curious Persons having affirmed, that they have tried Cions of Apple-Trees upon Elms, without Success; yet others assuring, that Quinces have been grafted upon Willows, and Pears upon White-Thorns, with very good Success. Where we take the Liberty to suggest, that it would, perhaps, not be amiss, to observe some Affinity in this kind of grafting, as to graft Chestnut-Cions on Oaks: Some would have Cions of Apples try'd on Oaks, and of Wallnuts on Ash-Trees, &c. 4. Whether any Trees will live, of which a Part is unbarked round about? Some affirming, that the Alder will thrive, notwithstanding its being thus unbarked. 5. Whether the often transplanting of Wild-Trees does really turn them into Garden-Trees. 6. Whether it agrees with Experience what Laurembergius affirms, that Gilly-flowers transplanted twice a Year, Spring and Harvest, become the fuller and the more beauteous? 7. Whether Trees and Shrubs are to be transplanted from the Full to the New Moon, about Michaelmas; but Herbs and Flowers in the increasing Moon; and all, about Evening. 8. Whether a Tree may be made to bear the first Year, by drawing a Branch thorough a Pot, the Branch being first pricked with a Knife so far as it is to stand in the Pot, and then watering it for seven or eight Days, to make the Branch shoot Roots; further, cutting the Branch from the Tree in March next, and knocking the Pot away from about it, and so putting the Branch together with the Earth into another good Soil. 9. Whether Trees may be secured from Frost, by digging them about in March, and pouring Water from Time to Time into that Hollowness, and keeping it about the Roots till the Blossom-time be past; or by putting, in the Spring, a Pot full of Water upon the Tree, or under it, whereby the Frost will fall into that Vessel, and leave the Tree unhurt? 10. Whether Corn ground to Flower in January and February will keep longer good, and free from Mustiness, than at other times? 11. Whether Flower, kneaded and baked as soon as it comes from the Mill, whilst 'tis yet warm, yields blacker and worse Bread? 12. Whether Flower, ground in February and March, the Moon being but three or four Days old, will last many Years good? 13. Whether Wheat and Rye, sprinkled with cold Water before it be carried to the Mill, and ground the next Morning, yields whiter Bread, though it dulls the Stones? 14. Whether Barley or Pease, burnt in a Pan till they grow almost hard, and then put in Wine, will make good Vinegar in two or three Days? 15. Whether the Seed of Garlick put into Vinegar that is yet fresh, will reduce it in three or four Days into Wine again? 16. Whether the boiling of Vinegar, and that in an earthen Vessel, will always keep it good, and preserve it from Corruption? 17. Whether Beer may be kept from souring in Summer, by hanging into the Vessel a Bag containing a new-laid Egg (pricked with a Pin full of little Holes,) and some Laurel-berries, and a few Barley-Grains, put together: Or by hanging into the Vessel only a new-laid Egg, and some Leaves of a Walnut-tree? And whether Laurel-berries alone, their Skin being peeled off, will keep Beer from Deadness? And whether Stale-Beer will be made new and fresh again, by grinding small the Ashes of Beech or Birch-Trees, and taking as many Handfuls of them as you have such Beer-vessels, and thickening them with some of such Beer, to the Confinement of Pulse, and so pouring it together into those Vessels, stirring them well, and then letting it settle? 18. Whether Beer tasting of the Cask may be freed of that Taste, by putting some Grains of Wheat in a Bag, and hanging it in the Vessel? 19. Whe- 19. Whether Rain-water, that falls with Thunder and Lightning, do more fertilize the ground than other Rain-water? 20. Whether the ashes of Soap-boilers, carried on meadows, and they dugged therewith, eat away all mossiness, and make grow fine young grafts? 21. Whether the Corn-worms (of which Virgil faith, *populatique ingentem farris acervum GURGULIO,* ) will be effectually driven away by a strong decoction of Wormwood, and by boiling the same Wormwood in Herring-pickle, and then sprinkling with this water the floor where the Corn lies, and with a little of it the Corn itself, stirring it well afterwards? 22. Whether hands rubbed with Rue, will thereby be secured from the biting of Vipers, Scorpions, &c. 23. Whether putting a little Wormwood-water into your Ink, will preserve the Paper, you write on, from the gnawing of Moths and Mice? 24. Whether hanging up the skin of a Paradise-bird in a shop, or putting it among cloaths, will secure them from Moths? 25. Whether Rue hung round about the place where Poultry roosts, will keep Weasels and Cats from hurting them? 26. Whether Ants or Pismires will be driven away by scattering the powder of Brimstone and *Origanum* or wild Marjoram? And whether the same effect will follow upon the smoaking of *borax* or *affa satida*; or upon the smoak of some of those creatures themselves burnt? 27. Whether Locusts, Flies and Gnats will be driven away from plants by smoaking of Wormwood, or by sprinkling Plants with a decoction of that herb? 28. Whether Experience do verify what Constantine, the Geographical Writer, faith, of a way of freeing the ground from Moles, viz. by digging a deep hole, and putting into it a pretty deep glazed earthen Pot, broad below and narrow a top, throwing a dead Crabfish into it; whereupon the Mole, upon the smell of the stinking fish, will creep into it, and falling into the Pot, cannot get out again? These and the like Queries, (which hereafter may follow,) are raised from the Communications of several of our Correspondents; which we are unwilling to deliver positively, till we hear them asserted and confirmed by observing Persons upon their own practice and experience.