The oak... has not the efficacy of the fir, nor the cypress that of the elm. - Vitruvius

Copious springs are found where there are mines of gold, silver, iron, copper, lead, and the like, but they are very harmful.

There is no kind of material, no body, and no thing that can be produced or conceived of, which is not made up of elementary particles; and nature does not admit of a truthful exploration in accordance with the doctrines of the physicists without an accurate demonstration of the primary causes of things, showing how and why they are as they are.

In order that the mortar in the joints may not suffer from frosts, drench it with oil-dregs every year before winter begins. Thus treated, it will not let the hoarfrost enter it.