I AM call'd upon, by Com­mand from your Lordship, and the Council, who di­rect the progress of the Royal Society (and as in course it falls) to entertain this Illustrious Assembly with some­thing, which being either dedu­ced from, or leading to Philoso­phical Experiment, may be of real use, and sutable to the de­sign of its Institution.

I am highly sensible, as of the honour which is done me, so of the great disadvantages I lye un­der, for want of abilities to carry [Page 8] me through an undertaking of this importance, and before such acute and learned Judges; but I hope, my obedience to your Commands, and, at least, endea­vours, will cover those defects for which I can make no other Apology.

There are few here, I presume, who know not upon how inno­cent and humble a subject I have long since diverted my thoughts; and therefore, I hope, they will not be displeased, or think it un­worthy of their patience, if from their more sublime and noble spe­culations (and which do often carry them to converse among the brighter Orbs, and Heavenly Bodies) they descend a while, and fix their eyes upon the Earth, which I make the present Argu­ment of my Discourse. I had once indeed pitch'd upon a Sub­ject of somewhat a more brisk and lively nature; for what is [Page 9] there in Nature so sluggish and dull as Earth? What more spiri­tual and active than Vegetation, and what the Earth produces? But this, as a Province becoming a more steady hand, and pene­trating wit, than mine to culti­vate (unless where it transitori­ly comes in my way to speak of Salts and Ferments) I leave to those of this learned Society, who have already given such admira­ble Essays of what they will be more able to accomplish upon that useful and curious Theme; and therefore I beg leave, that I may confine my self to my more proper Element, the Earth, which though the lowest, and most in­feriour of them all, is yet so sub­servient, and necessary to Vege­tation, as without it there could hardly be any such thing in Na­ture.

To begin, I shall in the first place then describe, what I mean [Page 10] by Earth; then I shall endeavour to shew you the several sorts and kinds of Earth; and lastly, how we may best improve it to the Uses of the Husbandman, the Fo­rester, and the Gardner, which is indeed of large and profitable ex­tent, though it be but poor and mean in sound, compar'd to Mines of Gold and Silver, and other rich Ores, which likewise are the Treasures of the Earth, but less innocent and useful.

I intend not here to amuse this noble Audience, or my self, with those nice enquiries, concerning what the real Form of that Body, or Substance is, which we call Earth, denudated and stripp'd of all Heterogeneity, and reduc'd to its principles, as whether it be composed of sandy, central, ni­trous, or other Salts, Atoms, and Particles? Whether void of all qualities but dryness, and the like (as they commonly enter [Page 11] into the several definitions of Philosophers,) nor of what Figure and Contexture it consists, which causes it to adhere and combine together, so as to affirm any thing dogmatically thereupon; much less shall I contend, whether it be a Planet moving about the Sun, or be fixt in the Center of the Universe; all which have been the curious researches and veli­tations of our later Theorists, but content my self with that Body or Mass of Gleab, which we both dwell on, and every day cultivate for our necessary subsistance, as it affords us Corn, Trees, Plants, and other Vegetables of all sorts, useful for humane life, or the in­nocent refreshments of it.

Those who have written de Arte Combinatoria, reckon of no fewer than One hundred seventy nine millions one thousand and sixty different sorts of Earths; but of all this enormous number, as [Page 12] of all other good things, it seems they do not acquaint us with a­bove eight or nine eminently use­ful to our purpose; and truly, I can hardly yet arrive at so many. Such as I find naturally and usu­ally to rise from the Pit, I shall here spread before you in their order.

The most beneficial sort of Mould or Earth, appearing on the surface (for we shall not at present penetrate lower than is necessary for the planting and propagation of Vegetables) as it consists of a mixt body, is the natural (as I beg leave to call it) under-turf-Earth, and the rest which commonly succeeds it, in strata's, or layers, 'till we arrive to the barren, and impenetrable Rock, be it fat or lean, Loam, Clay, Plastic, Figuline, or Sme­ctic; as Chalk, Marle, Fullers-Earth, Sandy, Gravelly, Stony, Rock, Shelly, Coal, or Mineral; [Page 13] such as with the Ancients were the Creta, Argilla, Smectica, To­phacea, Pulla, Alba, Rufa, Colum­bina, Macra, Cariosa, Rubrica (I name them promiscuously) to be found in the old Geoponic Au­thors, to whom I refer the Cri­tical.

Most, or all, of these lying (as I affirm'd) in Beds, one upon ano­ther, from softer to harder, better to worse, usually determine in Sand, Gravel, Stone, Rock, or Shell, which last we frequently meet with in Marsh and Fenny Delves, and sometimes even at the foot of high Mountains, af­ter divers successions of different Moulds.

I begin with what commonly first presents it self under the re­moved Turf, and which, for ha­ving never been violated by the Spade, or received any foreign mixture, we will call the Virgin-Earth; not that of the Chymists, [Page 14] but as we find it lying about a foot deep, more or less, in our Fields, before you come to any manifest alteration of colour or perfection. This surface-Mould is the best, and sweetest, being enriched with all that the Air, Dews, Showers, and Celestial In­fluences can contribute to it: For 'tis with good Earth, as with ex­cellent Water, that's the best, which with least difficulty re­ceives all external qualities; for the fatness of this Under-turf Mould, being drawn up by the kindly warmth of the Sun to its superficies, spends but little of its vigour in the Grass and tender verdure which it produces, and easily nourishes without dissipa­ting its virtue, provided no rank Weeds, or predatitious Plants (consummating their Seeds) be suffered to grow and exhaust it; but maintains its natural force, and is therefore of all other un­cultivated [Page 15] Earths, the most grate­ful to the Husbandman.

Now as the rest of incumbent and subjacent Earths approach this in virtue, so are they to be valued; and of these there are several kinds, distinguishable by their several constitutions: The best of which is black, fat, yet porous, light, and sufficiently te­nacious, without any mixture of Sand or Gravel, rising in pretty gross Clods at the first breaking up of the Plow; but with little labour and exposure falling to pieces, but not crumbling alto­gether into Dust, which is the defect of a more vicious sort. Of this excellent black Mould (fit almost for any thing without much manure) there are three kinds, which differ in hue and goodness.

The next layer in series to this, is usually mixt with a sprinkling of Stones, somewhat hard, yet [Page 16] friable, and when well aired and stirred, is not to be rejected; the loosness of it, admitting the re­freshment of showers, renders it not improper for Trees and Plants which require more than ordi­nary Moistures. Declining from this in perfection, is the darkish-Gray, or Tawny, which, the deep­er you mine, rises vein'd with yel­low, and sometimes reddish, till it end in pale; and if you pene­trate yet farther, commonly in Sand, and a gritty stone.

Of a second Class, is Mould of an obscure Colour also, more de­licate grain, tender, chessum and mellow; clear of stones and grit­tiness, with an eye of Lome and Sand, which renders it light enough, yet moist, of all other the most desirable for Flowers and the Coronary Garden.

To this we add, a yet more obscure, and sandy Mould, ac­companied with a natural fatti­ness, [Page 17] and this, though rarer, is incomparable for almost any sort of Fruit-Trees.

A third participates of both the former, fattish, yet inter­spersed with small Flints and Peb­bles; not to be altogether neg­lected.

A fourth is totally sandy, and that of divers colours, with some­times a bottom of Gravel, now and then Rock, and not seldom Clay; and, as the foundations are, so is it more or less retentive of moisture, and tolerable for Culture: But all Sand does easi­ly admit of Heat and Moisture, and yet for that not much the better; for either it dismisses and lets them pass too soon, and so contracts no ligature; or retains it too long; especially where the bottom is of Clay, by which it parches, or chills, producing nothing but Moss, and disposes to Cancerous infirmities: But [Page 18] if, as sometimes it fortunes, that the Sand have a surface of more genial mould, and a fund of Gra­vel or loose stone; though it do not long maintain the virtue it receives from Heaven; yet it produces as forward springing, and is parent of sweet Grass, which, though soon burnt up in dry weather, is as soon recover'd, with the first rain that falls.

Of pure and sheere-Sand, there's white, black, blewish, red, yellow, harsher, and milder, and some meer dust in appearance, none of them to be desired alone; but the grey-black, and ash-colour'd, and that which frequently is found in heathy Commons, or the travelling kind, volatile, and exceeding light, is the most insi­pid, and worst of all. I do not here speak of the Sea-Sands, which is of admirable virtue, and use in mixtures, and to be spread on some lands, because it has [Page 12] of all other good things, it seems they do not acquaint us with a­bove eight or nine eminently use­ful to our purpose; and truly, I can hardly yet arrive at so many. Such as I find naturally and usu­ally to rise from the Pit, I shall here spread before you in their order.

The most beneficial sort of Mould or Earth, appearing on the surface (for we shall not at present penetrate lower than is necessary for the planting and propagation of Vegetables) as it consists of a mixt body, is the natural (as I beg leave to call it) under-turf-Earth, and the rest which commonly succeeds it, in strata's, or layers, 'till we arrive to the barren, and impenetrable Rock, be it fat or lean, Loam, Clay, Plastic, Figuline, or Sme­ctic; as Chalk, Marle, Fullers-Earth, Sandy, Gravelly, Stony, Rock, Shelly, Coal, or Mineral; [Page 20] with the Sun and Wind, most of them pernicious, and untracta­ble.

The unctuous and fatter Clay frequently lyes upon the other, having oftentimes a basis of Chalk beneath it; but neither is this worth any thing, 'till it be loosened, and rendred more kind, so as to admit of the air and hea­venly influences.

I had almost forgotten Marsh-Earths, which though of all o­ther, seemingly, the most chur­lish, a little after 'tis first dug, and dryed (when it soon grows hard, and chaps,) may with la­bour, and convenient exposure, be brought to an excellent tem­per; for being the product of rich Slime, and the sediment of Land-Waters, and Inundations, which are usually fat, as also the rotting of Sedge, yea, and fre­quently of prostrated Trees, for­merly growing in or near them, [Page 21] and in process of time rotted (at least the spray of them) and now converted into mould, becomes very profitable Land: But whe­ther I may reckon this among the natural Earths, I do not contend.

Of Loams, and Brick-Earths, we have several sorts, and some approaching to Clay; others nearer Marle, differing also in colour; and if it be not too rude, mingled, in just proportion, with other Mold, an excellent ingre­dient in all sorts of Earth, and so welcome to the Husbandman, and the Gardner especially, as nothing does well without a lit­tle dash of it.

Of Marle (of a cold sad na­ture) seldom have we such quan­tities in Layers, as we have of the forementioned Earths; but we commonly meet with it in places affected to it, and 'tis ta­ken out of Pits, at several depths, and of divers colours, red, white, [Page 22] grey, blue, all of them unctuous, of a slippery nature, and in goodness, as being pure and im­mixt, it sooner relents after a shower, and when dryed again, slackens and crumbles into dust, without induration, and grow­ing hard again.

Lastly, Chalk, which is like­wise of several kinds and colours, hard, softer, fine, courser, slippe­ry and marly, and apt to dissolve with the weather into no unpro­fitable Manure: Some of them have a Sandish, others a blacker and light surface; and there is a sort which produces sweet Grass, and Aromatick Plants, and some so rank, especially in the Vallies of very high Hills, as to feed not only Sheep, but other Cattel, to great advantage, as we may see in divers places among the Downs of Suffex. But it has a peculiar virtue above all this, to improve other Lands, as we shall come to shew.

[Page 23] I forbear to speak particular­ly of Fullers-Earth, Tobacco-Clay, and th [...] several fictile Clays; be­cause they are not so universal, and serviceable to the Plow and Spade; much less of Terra Lem­nia, Chia, Melita, Hetruria, and the rest of the Sigillatae; nor of the Bolus's, Rubrics, and Okers, Figuline, Stiptic, Smegmatic &c. as they are diversly qualified for several uses, Medical, and Me­chanical; but content my self with those I have already enu­merated.

Now besides the Description and Characters we have given of these several Moulds and Earths, as they reside in their several Beds and Couches, there are divers other Indications, by which we may discover their qualities and perfections; as amongst other, a most infallible one is, its disposi­tion to melt, and crumble into fine morsels, not turn to Mud [Page 24] and Mortar, upon the descent of gentle showers, how hard soever it seem before, and if in stir­ring it rise rather in granules, than massy Clods.

If excavating a Pit, the Mould, you exhaust, more than fill it a­gain, Virgil tells us 'tis good Au­gury; upon which Laurember­gius affirms, that at Wittemberg in Germany, where the Mould lies so close, as it does not reple­nish the foss, out of which it has been dug, the Corn which is sown in that Country, soon de­generates into Rye; and what is still more remarkable, that the Rye sown in Thuringia (where the Earth is less compacted) re­verts, after three Crops, to be Wheat again.

My Lord Bacon directs to the observation of the Rain-bow, where its extremity seems to rest, as pointing to a more roscid and fertile Mould; but this, I con­ceive, [Page 25] may be very fallacious, it having two horns, or bases, which are ever opposite.

But the situation and declivi­ty of the place is commonly a `more certain mark; as what lyes under a Southern, or South-East rising-ground; But this is also eligible according to the purpo­ses you would employ it for; some Plants affecting hotter, other colder exposures; some delight to dwell on the Hills, others in the Vallies, and closer Seats; and some again are indifferent to ei­ther; but generally speaking, most of them chuse the warm, and more benign; and the bot­toms are universally fertile, be­ing the recipients of what the showers bring down to them from the Hills and more eleva­ted parts.

Another infallible indication is the nature, and floridness of the Plants which officiously it pro­duces; [Page 26] as where Thistles sponta­neously thrive; where the Oak grows tall and spreading; and as the Plant is of kind, so to pro­gnostic for what Tillage, Layer, or other use the ground is pro­per; Time, Straw-berries, Betony, &c. direct to Wood; Camomile, to a Mould disposed for Corn, and I add, to Hortulan furniture; Burnet, to Pasture; Mallows to Roots, and the like, as my Lord Verulam and others observe.

On the contrary, some ground there is so cold, as naturally brings forth nothing but Gorse, and Broom, Holly, Yew, Juniper, Ivy, Box, &c. which may happi­ly direct us to the planting of Pine, Firs, the Phillyreas, Spa­nish Broom, and other perennial verdures in such places.

Mos [...], Rushes, WildTansy, Sedge, Flags, Ferne, Yarrow, and where Plants appear wither'd or blast­ed, shrubby, and curl'd, (which [Page 27] are the effects of immoderate wet, heat, and cold interchan­geably) are natural auguries of a cursed Soil. Thus as by the Plant we may conjecture of the Mould; so by the Mould may we guess at the Plant: The more her­baceous and tender, springing from the gentle Bed; the course and rougher Plants, from the rude and churlish: And as some Earths appear to be totally bar­ren, and some though not altoge­ther so unfruitful, yet wanting salacity to conceive, vigour to produce, and sensibly eluding all our pains; so there is other, which is perpetually pregnant, and this is likewise a good prognostic.

Upon these, and such like hints, in proposals of transplant­ing Spices, and other exotic ra­rities, from either Indies; the curious should be studious to pro­cure of the natural Mould in which they grow (and this might [Page 28] be effected to good proportion, by the balasting of Ships) either to plant, or nourish them in from the Seed, till they were of age, and had gained some stability of roots and stem, and become ac­quainted with the Genius of our Climate; or for Essays of Mix­tures, to compose the like.

By the goodness, richness, hun­griness and tincture of the Wa­ter straining through grounds, and by the weight and sluggish­ness of it, compared with the lighter, conjecture also may be made, as in part we have shew­ed.

To conclude, there are almost none of our Senses, but may of right pretend to give their verdict here, and first,

By the Odour or Smell, con­taining (as my Lord Verulam af­firms) the juice of Vegetables already as it were concocted and prepared; so as after long [Page 29] drowths, upon the first rains, good and natural Mould will emit a most agreeable scent; and in some places (as Alonso Barba, a considerable Spanish Author te­stifies) approaching the most ra­vishing perfumes; as on the con­trary, if the ground be disposed to any Mineral, or other ill qua­lity, sending forth Arsenical, and very noxious steams; as we find from our Marshes and Fenny­grounds.

By the Taste, and that with good reason; all Earths abound­ing more or less in their peculiar Salts, as well as Plants; some sweet and more grateful; others bitter, mordacious, or astringent; some flat and insipid; all of them to be detected by percolation of untainted Water through them; though there be who affirm, that the best Earth, like the best Wa­ter, and Oyl, has neither Odour, nor Taste.

[Page 30] By the Touch, if it be tenera, fatty, detersive, and slippery, or more asperous, gritty, porous and fryable; likewise, if it stick to the fingers like Bird-lime, or melt and dissolve on the tongue like Butter: Furthermore, good and excellent Earth should be of the same constitution, and not of contrary, as soft and hard; chur­lish and mild; moist and dry; not too unctuous nor too lean, but resoluble, and of a just and procreative temper, combining into a light, and easily crumbling Mould; yet consistent, and apt to be wrought and kneaded, such as having a modicum of Loam naturally rising with it, to en­tertain the moisture, does nei­ther defile the Fingers, nor cleave much to the Spade, which easily enters it, and such as is usually found under the turf of Pasture-Grounds, upon which Cattel have been long fed and foddered. In a [Page 31] word, that is the best Earth to all Senses, which is blackish, cuts like Butter, sticks not obstinate­ly, but is short, light, breaking into small Clods, is sweet, will be temper'd without crusting or chapping in dry weather, or (as we say) becoming Mortar in wet.

Lastly, by the Sight, from all the Instances of Colour, and o­ther visible Indications: For the common opinion is (though long since exploded by Columella) that all hot, and choleric grounds, are red or brown; cold and dry, blackish; cold and moist, whi­tish; hot and moist, ruddy; which yet, exhalations from Mi­nerals, the heat of the Sun, and other accidents may cause; but generally, they give preeminence to the darker Grays; next, to the Russet; the clear Tawny is found worse; the light and dark-ash-co­lour (light also of weight, and resembling Ashes) good for no­thing; [Page 32] but the yellowish-red worst of all. And all these are fit to be known, as contributing to noble and useful Experiments, upon due and accurate Compa­risons, and enquiry from the se­veral Particles of their Constitu­tions, Figures, and Modes, as far at least, as we can discover them by the best auxiliaries of Micro­scopes, Lotions, Strainers, Calci­nations, Triturations and grind­ings, upon such discovery to judge of their qualities, and by essaying variety of mixtures, and imitating all sorts of Mould, fo­reign or Indigen, to compound Earths as near as may be resem­bling the natural, for any speci­al or curious use, and be thereby enabled to alter the genius of Grounds as we see occasion.

The consideration of this it was, which gave me the curiosi­ty to fall upon the examining of a Collection I had made of seve­ral [Page 33] sorts both of Earth and Soils, such as I could find about this Territory; whereof some I washed, to find by what would melt, reside, or pass away in the percolation, of what visible Fi­gure they chiefly seemed to con­sist, armed as I was with an indif­ferent Microscope, of which be pleased to take this brief ac­count.

Gravelly and Arenous Earths of several sorts, before they were washed, appeared to be, most of it, rough Crystals, of which some very transparent and gem­my; few of them sharp or angu­lar, but roundish; mixed with Atoms and Particles of a mineral hue, which being well dryed, and bruised on a hard serpentine Stone, and Mullar of the same, was with little labour reduced to an impalpable whitish Sand, un­transparent, as it happens in the bruisings of most, though never [Page 34] so diaphanous bodies, which may be so reduced.

Yellow Sand had the appea­rance of Amber; bruised, an un­transparent paler Sand.

Fat rich Earth, full of black spots, without much discolour­ing the water (as hardly did any of the Sands at all) being dryed, was reduced to a delicate sandy Dust, with very little bright­ness.

Marsh Earth contained a consi­derable quantity of Sand, the rest resembled the Fat Earth.

The Vnder-pasture mould had likewise a sandy mixture, and what passed with the water after evaporation, seemed to be an im­palpable, and very fine untran­sparent Sand.

Clay consisted of most excee­ding smooth and round Sands of several opacous colours.

Potters-Earth, of different sorts, ground small, became like Sand, [Page 35] of a yellowish grey, and other colours, exceeding polite and smooth.

A certain yellowish loamy Earth, which had been brought to me, with some Orange-Trees out of Italy, was reduced to a bright soft Sand, appearing more gem­my than in the other Loams.

Chalk resembled fine white Flower, and some of it sparkling, especially the harsher sort; but the [...]ender, not.

Fullers-Earth appeared like Gum tragacanth, a little wetted, seemingly swelled, yet glistering; but when reduced to a fine dust, a smooth Sand.

Tabacco-Earth, not much bruis­ed, was just like white Starch; washed, and well dryed, it re­sembled the whitest Flower of Wheat a little candyed: I had not the opportunity of examining the several sorts of Marles; and so I proceed to the Dungs.

[Page 36] Neats-Dung (the Cattel fed on­ly with Fodder, or little Grass, for 'twas in the Winter I made my observations) appeared to be nothing but straws in the entire substance, and colour little alter­ed, save what a certain slippery mucilage gave them, sprinkled with a glistring Sand, like Atoms of Gold; but upon washing and drying again, the tenacious mat­ter vanished, and the straws ap­peared separated and clear.

Sheeps-Dung was much like the former, only the spires and blades of a fine short grass conglomera­ted and rolled up in the Pellets, and the glew about it less viscous, but it passed also away in the lo­tion.

Swines-Dung had the resem­blance of dirty Bees Wax, min­gled with straws and husks, which seemed like candied Eringo, and some like Angelica Roots.

The Soil of Horses appeared [Page 37] like great wisps of Hay, and lit­tle straws, thin of mucilage, and which being washed, was easily to be discerned by a naked Eye.

Dears-Dung much resembled that of Sheeps.

Pigeons-Dung consisted of a stiff glutinous matter, easily re­ducible to dust of a grey colour, with some husky Atoms, after dilution. Lastly,

The Dung of Poultry, was so full of Gravel, small stones, and sand, that there appeared little or no other substance, save a ve­ry small portion both of white and blackish viscous matter twisted up together; of all the other, the most foetid and ill smelling.

These were all I had time and leisure to examine, I cannot say with all the accurateness they were capable of, but sufficiently to encourage the more curious, and to satisfie my self, that the [Page 38] very finest Earth, and best of Moulds, however to appearance mixt with divers imperfect Bo­dies, may, for ought we know, consist more of sandy particles, than of any other whatsoever; at least, if from this Criterion we may be allowed to pronounce, what they seem to the Eye, Sands, Crystals, or Salts (call them what you please;) the con­sideration of which being so uni­versally the cause of Vegetation, was no small inducement to me, to see, if by examining the seve­ral Earths, (though but by a cur­sory inspection) I might possibly detect, what Rudiments of such a Principle there were lurk­ing in them, abstractedly taken; not that I opine Earth to be Salt alone, and nothing else (though perhaps little more besides Sul­phur,) for so it produces no Ve­getable that I know of, without Water to dissolve and qualifie it [Page 39] for insumption, and perhaps some other matter fitted to receive the Seeds, and keep the Plant steady; which yet for ought I can discern, is also but a finer sort of Sand, the clamminess of it being rather something extrinsecal and acci­dental to it, than any thing na­tural, and originally constitutive: For, the combination of these se­veral Moulds, which gives the ligature, slipperiness, and a di­vers temper, seems rather to be caused by the perpetual and suc­cessive rotting of the Grass, Plants, Leaves, Branches, Moss, and o­ther excrescences growing upon it (than any peculiar or solitary principle apart) which in long tract of time, has amassed toge­ther a substance heterogeneous to the ruder Particles, which after the dilutions of the superficies (that is of the rich and fatter Mould) appears to be little other than Sand, or fixed Salts, of va­rious [Page 40] Figures and Colours; since even the most obdurate and flinty Pebble, beaten and ground to powder, or by Calcination re­duced to an impalpable dust, is as fine both to the Eye, and smooth to the touch, as the most Smectic Earths and Marles them­selves; such, at least, as you shall collect from the subsidence (to appearance) of the most Crystal Waters, precipitated by deliqua­ted Oyle of Tartar, or the like; and the more they be subdued and broken, the harder they will prove, if (cleared of their ni­trous parts) they pass the Potters Fire, however they seemed be­fore to be of different constitu­tion: This is evident in Vessels made of Tabacco-Clay, or what­ever the material be, which has of late been so successfully em­ployed, for the sinding out of a composition (if so I may call it) nothing inferiour to the hardest [Page 41] Pourcelain, and almost as beauti­ful (by a worthy Member of this Mr. Hook. Society).

But to return to our superfici­al Earth, which we call the Mould, I affirm it to grow and increase yearly in depth from the Cau­ses aforesaid; and in some places, to that proportion, as to have raised no inconsiderable Hills and Eminences, by the acciden­tal fall and rotting of Woods and Trees; such as Birch, and Beech, &c. which are not of a constitution to remain long in the ground (as Fir, Oak, Elme, and some other Timber will do, and grow the harder) without corruption, and relenting into Mould as soft and tender as what they first were sown or planted in; and of this I am able to give undenyable Instances. I insist not here on the perpetual successions, and generations of Flints, and other Stones, in the same places, [Page 42] where they have been sedulously gathered off, by many (not im­probably) thought to proceed from Worm-casts, hardened by the air, and a certain lapidescent succus, or spirit, which it meets with: And this, for happening most on Downs, very much ex­posed (yet undisturbed) is the more probable; as, on the other side, it establishes our conjecture of the purest Moulds being ca­pable of such a change; that which is thus cast up by the Worms, being so exceedingly elaborated and refined: There­fore let no man be over-confident, that because some Earths are soft, fat, and slippery, they may not possibly consist of Sands (of which there are so many kinds,) since 'tis evident, that even all fossile Bodies, which can be re­duced and brought to sands, may by contrition of the Parti­cles be rendred so minute, as to [Page 43] emulate the finest Earths we have enumerated; the compactedness, and accidental mixtures resulting (as we affirm) from things ex­trinsecal, not excluding exhala­tions, passage of liquors and se­veral juices to them, or convey­ed by subterraneous steams and influences; be the Stones or Rock Glareous, Metallic, Testace­ous, Salts, or any other Concretes whatsoever. And what, if we should indeed suspect all Earth to be arrant Salt, nay Glass, and that Glass, how hard soever, the off-spring and child of water, the most fluid, crystalline, sincere and void of all other qualities? 'tis not impossible, I think, but by the different texture of its parts, even that liquid Element may be brought to the consi­stence of a most different body to what it appears: We know, that Water (besides that it was the first immense body which in­vested Gen. 1. [Page 44] the Chaos) was by some thought to be the Mother of Earth, (nay the principia soluta of all mixts whatsoever,) and that the bottom of the Sea was made by a perpetual Hypostasis or subsidence, which precipitated from every part of it to the Cen­ter. I do not stand to justifie these speculations, but to illu­strate what I am about; namely, that Water is apt enough to be condensed and made hard; and crude Mercury, and running me­tal, Crystals, Gems, and Pearls, do more resemble it, than that dirty and opace body, which we usually denominate Earth: Be­sides we find, how divers Waters, not only indurate and petrifie o­ther substances, but grow into Stones, and leave a rocky Callus where they drop and continually pass, and that all sands and stones are not diaphanous; therefore that is no eviction, but that they [Page 45] might once have been fluid, since their opacity may be adventitious and proceed from sundry acci­dents; so as granting this Hypo­thesis, we are less to wonder, that this matter is above all other so disposed to Vegetation, and apt to produce Plants indued with Colour, Weight, Taste, Odour, and with sundry medical and o­ther virtues, as I think that ex­cellent Philosopher Mr. Boyle (an ornament of this Society) does somewhere make out from the various Percolations, Concocti­ons, and Circulations of that fruitful Menstrue: And if that be true, that there is but one Catholic, homogeneous, fluid mat­ter, (diversified only by shape, size, motion, repose, and various texture of the minute Particles it consists of; and from which af­fections of matter, the divers qualities result of particular bo­dies;) what may not mixture, [Page 46] and an attent inspection into the anatomical parts of the vegeta­ble family in time produce, for our composing of all sorts of Moulds and Soils almost imagi­nable, which is the drift of my present Discourse? And why might not Solomon by this means have really had all kinds of Plants in his incomparable Gar­dens? even Ebony, Cloves, Cin­namon, and from the Cedar to the Shrub, such as grew only in the remotest regions, furnished (as he doubtless was) with so extraordinary an insight into all natural things, and powers, for the composing of Earths, and assigning them their proper mix­tures and ferments. I do not here enquire, whether there be not a Pansperme universally dif­fused, individuated, and specifi­ed in their several Matrixes, and receptacles pro ratione mixti (as they speak) but I think there [Page 47] might very unexpected Phaeno­menas be brought to light, in vegetable productions, did men seriously apply themselves to make such possible tryals, as is in the power of Art to effect; and how far Soils may be dissembled, and the Air and Water attem­pered, (at least for some curio­sities, which may give light to more useful things) I do not con­clude; but I should expect very rare and considerable things from an attentive and diligent Endea­vour. To this end, the raising of artificial Dews and Mists im­pregnated with several qualities, for the more natural refreshment of Exotic[?] Plants, were, it may be, no hard matter to effect, no more than were the modification of the Air abroad, as well as in our more confined Reserves, where we set them in for Hyemation, and during the most rigorous Colds. As for mixtures of Earths; [Page 48] Plants we know are nourished by things of like affinity with the constitution of the Soil which produces them; and therefore 'tis of singular importance, to be well read in the Alphabet of Earths and Composts: For, as we have said, Plants affect the Marsh, Bog, Mountain, Vally, Sand, Gra­vel, sat and lean Mould, accord­ing to their tempers; and for want of skill in this, the same Plant not only languishes and starves, but some we find to grow so luxuriate, as to change their very shapes, colours, leaves, roots, and other parts, and to grow almost out of knowledge of the skilfullest Botanists; not here to speak of what alterations do accrue from transplanting and irrigations alone. I mention this, to incite the curious to essay ar­tificial Compositions in defect of the natural Soil; to make new confections of Earths and Moulds [Page 49] for the entertaining of the most generous and profitable Plants, as well as curious; especially if, as I hinted, we could skill to modifie also the Air about them, and make the remedy as well re­gional as topical; and why not for other Fruits (Strangers yet amongst us) as for Oranges, Le­mons, Pomegranats, Figs, and o­ther precious Trees, which of late are become almost indeni­zon'd amongst us, and grow eve­ry generation more reconcilea­ble to the Climate?

Here we might enlarge upon the several enquiries formerly suggested: As, how far Principles might be multiplyed, and diffe­renced by alteration and conden­sation? Whether Earth, stript of all heterogeneity, and uniform particles, retain only weight, and an insipid siccity? And whether it produce or afford any thing more than embracement to the [Page 50] first rudiments of Plants, prote­ction to the roots, and stability to the stem; unprolific, as they say, 'till married to something of a more masculine virtue which irradiates her; but otherways, nourishing only from what it at­tracts, without any active or ma­terial contribution: These in­deed, with many other quaeries, do appositely come in here; but it would perhaps render this Di­scourse more prolix, than useful, to enter upon them in detaille; nor is it for me to undertake spe­culations of so abstruse a nature, without unpardonable ostenta­tion; and therefore having only offered something towards the discovery of the great varieties, and choice of Earths, (such as we Gardiners and Rustics for the most part meet with in our Grounds,) my next endeavour shall be to shew, how we may improve the best, and prescribe [Page 51] remedy to the worst, by labour and stirring only, which being the least artificial, approaches the nearest to Nature.

At the first breaking up of your Ground therefore, let there be a pretty deep Trench or Fur­row made throughout, of com­petent depth (as the manner is of experienced Gardiners,) the Turf being first pared off, and laid by it self, with the first Mould lying under it, and that of the next in succession, that so they may both participate of the Air, Showers, and Influences, to which they are exposed; and this is to be done in severals, as deep as you think fit, that is, so far, as you find the Earth well na­tur'd; or you may fling it up in several small mounds or lumps, suffering the Frosts and Snows of a Winter or two (according as the nature of it seems to require) pass upon them, beginning your [Page 52] work about the commencement of Autumn, before the Mould becomes too ponderous and slug­gish; though some there are, who chuse an earlier season, and to open their Ground when the Sun approaches, not when he retires: But certainly, to have the whole Winter before us, does best temper and prepare it for those impregnating agents.

In separating the surface-mould from the deeper, whether you make a Trench, or dig holes to plant your Trees in, be it for Stan­dards, Espalieres, or Shrubs; the longer you expose it, and leave the receptacles open (were it for two whole Winters) it soon would recompense your expe­ctation; and especially, if when you come to Plant, you dispose of the best and fattest Earth at the bottom; which if it be of sweet and ventilated Mud of Ponds, or High-way-Dust, were [Page 53] preferrable to all the artificial Composts you can devise: In de­fect of this, (where it cannot be had in quantity) cast in the up­per Turfs (if not already con­sumed) the Sod downwards, with the next adhering Mould for half a foot in thickness; on this a layer of well-matur'd Dung; then as much of the Earth which was last flung out, mixing them very well together: Repeat this process for kinds, mixture, and thickness, till your trenches and holes be filled four or five Inches above the level or area of the Ground, to which it will quick­ly subside upon the first refresh­ings, and a very gentle treading to establish the Tree. Fruit planted in such Mould you will find to prosper infinitely better, than where young Trees are clapt in at adventure in new­broken-up Earth, which is always cold and sluggish, and ill com­plexion'd; [Page 54] nor will they require (as else they do) to be supplyed every foot with fresh Soil, before they be able to put forth lusty and spreading roots; but which it is impossible to convey to them, so as to affect the under­parts, by excavating the ground, and undermining the Trees (after once they arrive to any stature) without much trouble and in­convenience, and the manifest re­tarding of their progress.

If you will plant in pits and holes, and not give your ground an universal Trenching (which I prefer,) make them the larger (five foot at the least square) but not above half a yard or two foot deep, according to the na­ture of the Tree. In dressing the Roots, be as sparing as possible of the Fibers, small and tender strings (which are as the Emul­gent Veins which insume and con­vey the nourishment to the [Page 55] whole Tree;) and such of the stronger and more confirmed parts which you trim, cut slo­ping, so as the wound may best apply to the Earth. The Head or Top I advise you to let alone, 'till after the most penetrating colds be past, and then, about February, to take them off, and shape them as you please, and as the skilful Gardners can direct you. An Orchard thus planted, Spring and Autumnal stirrings of the Mould about them is of in­credible advantage; and even during the hottest Summer-Months carefully to abate the Weeds (but not to dig above a quarter of a Spit-deep, for fear of exposing them to the Sun, un­less it be after plentiful showers) is very necessary.

There are, I confess, who fansie that this long exposure of Earth before it be employed for a Crop, causes it to exhale, and spend the [Page 56] virtue which it should retain; but, provided nothing be suffered to grow on it whilst it lyes thus rough and fallow, there's no dan­ger of that; there being in truth no compost or laetation whatsoe­ver comparable to this continual motion, repastination, and turn­ing of the Mould with the Spade; the pared-off Turf (which is the very fat and efflorescence of the Earth) and even Weeds with their vegetable Salts, so collect­ed into heaps, and exposed, be­ing reduced and falling into na­tural, sweet, and excellent Mould. I say, this is a marvellous advan­tage, and does in greater mea­sure fertilize the ground alone, without any other additament: For the Earth, which was former­ly dull and unactive, or perhaps producing but one kind of Plant, will by this culture dispose it self to bring forth variety, as it lies in depths, be it never so pro­found, [Page 57] cold and crude, the na­ture of the Plant always follow ing the genius of the Soil; but indeed requiring time, accord­ing to the depth from whence you fetch it, to purge and pre­pare it self, and render it fit for conception, evaporating the ma­lignant halitus's and impurities of the imprisoned air, laxing the parts, and giving easie delive­rance to its off-spring.

I do not dispute, whether all Plants have their primigenial Seeds, and that nothing emerges spontaneously, and at adventure; but, that these would rise freely, in all places, if impediments were re­moved (of which something has already been spoken;) & to shew, how pregnant most Earths would become, were these indispositions cured, and that those seminal ru­diments, wherever latent, were free to move and exert their vir­tue, by taking off these Chains [Page 58] and Weights which fetter and depress them.

It is verily almost a miracle to see, how the same Land, with­out any other Manure or Culture, will bring forth, and even luxu­riate; and that the bare raking and combing only of a bed of Earth, now one way, then ano­ther, as to the regions of Hea­ven and polar Aspects, may di­versifie the annual production, which is a secret worthy to be confidered: I am only to cauti­on our labourer as to the pre­sent work, that he do not stir the ground in over-wet and slabby weather; that the Sulcus or Trench be made to run from North to South, and that, if there be occasion for opening of a fresh piece of Earth, for present use, he dig not above one Spit-deep, which will be sufficient to cover the roots of any plantable Fruit, or other Tree; otherwise, not to [Page 59] disturb it again 'till the March following; when, if he please, and that the ground seem to re­quire an hastier maturation, there may be a Crop of Beans, Pease, or Turneps sown upon it, which will mellow it exceedingly, and destroy the noxious Weeds; af­ter which, with a slight repasti­nation, one may plant or sow any thing in it freely; especially Roots, which will thrive brave­ly; and so will Trees, provided you plant them not too deep, but endeavour to make them spread, and take in the succulent virtue of the upper Mould; and there­fore too deep trenching is not always profitable, unless it be for Esculent Roots, such as Car­rots, Parsneps, Beets, and the like; since Trees, especially Fruit, would be tempted even by baits, to run shallow; such as pene­trate deep, commonly spending more in Wood and Leaves, than [Page 60] in the burden for which we plant them.

There is only this caution due, that you never plant your Roots where the stiff and churlish ground is likely to be within reach of them; for though it be neither necessary nor convenient, they should penetrate deep, it is yet of high importance, they should dilate and spread, which they will never do in obstinate and inhospitable land (but revert back towards the milder and bet­ter natured Mould,) which crum­ples the roots, and perverts their posture to their exceeding dam­mage. And to this infirmity our rare Exotic Plants and Shrubs are most obnoxious, confined as they are to their Wooden Cases, and Testaceous Prisons, and therefore require to be frequently trimm'd and supplyed with fresh and suc­culent Mould to entertain the Fibers, which else you will find [Page 61] to mat in unexplicable intangle­ments, and adhere to the sides of the Vessel, where they dry or corrupt.

Having said thus much of the Natural, I should now come to Artificial helps, by application of Dungs, and Composts; and indeed, stude ut magnum sterqui­linium habeas, was old and good advice; but for that there be, who affirm any Culture of the Earth preferrable to Dung, even things so slight as the haume of Peas and Lupines, or any other Pulse (for when I speak of Dungs, I mean those excrementitious and sordid materials which we com­monly heap up and lay upon our Grounds,) I beg your patience to suspend a while my stirring that less pleasant mixture, and, 'till it be well air'd and fit for use, proceed a little farther on our former subject, and try what aid we may yet expect from more [Page 62] kind and benign means, before we come to the gross and vio­lent. For, besides that such com­post (at least so prepared as it ought to be) is not every where, nor always to be had in quanti­ties; to confide in Dungs and Ordure is not so safe and of that importance to our Husbandman, Hesiod. as some are made believe, since if we shall look back into the best experience of elder days, we shall find, they had very little or no use at all of stercoration. I know some there be, who attri­bute this neglect to the natural fertility of the Country, that 'tis the busie nurse of Vermine, and nauseous accidents; but waving these, (without intending to desert the aid of Soil in place and time,) I proceed with what I call more natural helps; name­ly, as we have shewed, by open­ing, stirring, and ventilating the Earth, and sometimes its con­trary, [Page 63] by coverture, shade, rest, and forbearance for a season, as we daily see it practised in our worn-out and exhausted lay­fields, which enjoy their Sab­baths. 'Tis certain, that for our Gardens of Pleasure, the fairest beauties of the Parterre, require rather a fine, quick, friable, and well-wrought Mould, than a rank or richly dunged.

I shall here then begin with an experiment I have been taught by a learned Person of this illustri­ous Body, from whom I have long D. Beale. since received the choicest docu­ments upon this and many curious subjects. And first, That amongst the mechanical aids, (wherein stercoration has no hand) that of pulverizing the Earth by con­tusion, and breaking it with Plow or Spade, is of admirable effect to dispose it for the reception of all the natural impregnations we have been discoursing upon, as [Page 64] constant and undenyable, I think will be evinced. For the Earth, especially if fresh, has a certain magnetism in it, by which it at­tracts the Salt, power, or virtue (call it either,) which gives it life, and is the Logic of all the labour and stir we keep about it, to sustain us; all dungings and other sordid temperings, being but the vicars succedaneous to this improvement, which of all other makes its return of Fruit, or whatsoever else it bears, with­out imparting any of those ill and pernicious qualities, which we sensibly discover from forced grounds; and that not only in the Plants which they produce, but in the very Animals which they feed and nourish.

I know, Laurembergius (some­where) denys this, and that Ani­mals in preparing Chyle, trans­mute, alter, and insume what is only their proper aliment; re­jecting [Page 65] all that is superfluous; but as our Early Asparagus, Cauly­flowers, and divers roots, mani­festly refute it, so does the taste of the flesh, and milk of Cattel, and especially Fowle, that feed on the wild Garlick, Fenny-grass, and other rank and putrid things; not here to insist on their sweet and delicate relish upon their change of Food, and more odo­riferous pasture: But to the ex­periment.

Take of the most barren Earth you can find, drain'd, if you please, of all its Nitrous Salts, and masculine parts; reduce it to a fine powder (which may be done even in large proportion, by a rude Engine, letting fall a kind of ham­mer or beetle at the motion of a wheel;) let this pulveriz'd Earth, and for the time uncessantly agi­tated, be expos'd for a Summer and a Winter to the vicissitudes and changes of the seasons, and in­fluences [Page 66] of Heaven: By this la­bour, and rest from Vegetation, you will find it will have obtain'd such a generous and masculine pregnancy, within that period, as to make good your highest ex­pectations: And to this belongs Sr. Hugh Platts Contrition, or Philosophical Grinding of Earth; which upon this exposure alone, without manure of Soile, after the like revolution of time, will, as he affirms, be able to receive an exotie Plant from the farthest Indies, and cause all Vegetables to prosper in the most exalted de­gree; and, to speak magnificent­ly with that Industrious Man, to bear their fruit as kindly with us, as they do in their natural Climates: But a little to abate of this, modestly we may say, that this Culture (easy and simple as it is) will be found effectually able to render the Soil of a most extensive Capacity, for the enter­tainment [Page 67] of foreign and un­common plants. For to enume­rate some of its perfections; such as refuse Dung, and violent ap­plications, have here pure Earth; and such as require aid, a mellow and rich mould, impregnated with all the blessings which the Influences of the Heaven, and efflorescence of the Earth can con­tribute to it; fitted, as it is, for Generation, and yet so restrain'd from it, as greedily to receive the first Seeds, which are com­mitted to it, with a passion, and fer­vency as it were of animal love. What high and sublime things are spoken more upon this, I for­bear to prosecute; but in Sir Kenelme Digby's discourse of Sym­pathetic Powder he affirmes, that the Earth in the years of repose recovers its Vigor, by the at­traction of the Vital Spirits, which it receives from the air, and those superiour irradiations, which en­dow [Page 68] simple Earth with qualities promoting fermentation. And in­deed, such a vegetative activity I have often observ'd in the bare exposure of some Plants but for a few hours onely, as has rais'd my admiration, particularly in the Aloe, and other kinds of Sedums, which, when to all appearance shrunk and shrivel'd up, have fill'd themselves in a moment, set out in the Air, when a very few drops of water (at the same, that is, Winter, time) would certain­ly have made it rot, and turn to a mucilage, as, to my cost, I have experienc'd. And these Ferments of the Earth, by this amity and genial intercourse with the Air, are innumerable, to concoct, digest, accelerate, and restore; equal to, yea, be­yond any artificial enforce­ments of Dungs, and compost whatsoever. But to return to dust again; by the toil we have [Page 69] mention'd, 'tis found, that Soil may be so strangely alter'd from its former nature, as to render the harsh and most uncivil Clay ob­sequious to the Husbandman, and to bring forth Roots, and Plants, which otherwise require the light­est and hollowest moulds.

In other cases and affections, the Earth may be likewise ferti­liz'd as from without, so from within, by more recondite and central Causes, and agitations, whichif if in excess, may be allay'd with some feminine or other mix­ture; since often times, qualities too intense, rather poyson dry and cholerick grounds, than con­duce to their advantage, as we shall come to shew; and that which makes a cold and moist ground fertile, will destroy the contrary, as we see it in too free applications of salt; and there­fore it requires no ordinary dex­terity, to be able to direct where, [Page 70] and what remedies are to be ad­ministred; since we find it the same in Vegetable productions, as in the Animal, where Complexi­ons should be suited; for want of which care, through avarice, and other sordid Circumstances, No­ble Families themselves are many­times rendr'd Childless, which might else have multipli'd and been perpetuated. To illustrate this by our present subject: We find, that a thin seifing, or sprink­ling of Ashes, has enriched all the higher Pastures, when, where 'twas strew'd too thick, it became totally barren: sometimes again, defect of sufficient depth may be cause of sterility; and so it fre­quently happens, that the proper remedy of some hungry and shallow surface, is, to superinduce and lay more Earth upon it, and to find out the medium by diligent tryals of some degrees of depths in the same Soil; but solitary, [Page 71] single, or over-hasty Experiments, before the Earth be prepar'd by some of our foremention'd Essays, may prove discouraging, and un­sufficient, as my Lord Bacon has oft advertis'd us.

Earth is also sometimes improv'd by mixtures of Fearn, rotten leaves, and the pourriture of old Wood; the haulm of beans, pease, and other legumina, which heates, and accelerates Con­coction; for which, and all other Medications, the nature of the Mould is carefully to be ex­amin'd, that application be made accordingly; as for instance, If it be sandy, or other light mixed Earth, to imbody it with some­thing of a fatter nature, as Lime, or Marle, (for I yet forbear the touch of ordure or animal Com­posts, as the least natural;) and be sure so to stirr, and lay it (es­pecially if with Lime) that it may not sink too deep, and sud­dainly [Page 72] as 'tis apt to do, and so desert the surface-mould, where it should do the feat, and there­fore it is to be the oftner renew'd. But Marle enters as properly here, and so does Mudd, Slub of slimy Waters; especially, if the soil be gravelly and mixt, which it will sadden and impinguate, and con­sequently combine; but if the Gravel be wet and cold, Lime is preferable: Wherefore the nature of the mould should be well ex­amin'd before the application; as here arenous and sandy Earth wants ligature, and besides con­sisting of sharp and asperous an­gles, wounds and galls, curles and dwarfs our Plants, without extraordinary help, to render the passages more slippery, and easy; and therefore relenting Chalks, or Chalk-Marle, is also profitable, with Calcinations of Turfe, or Sea-Wrack, where it is at hand; and if the Soil be ex­ceeding [Page 73] bibulous, spread a Layer or Couch of Loame, discreetly mingl'd, at the bottom, to enter­tain the moisture. In the mean time, there are yet some Plants which thrive almost in nothing so well as in Sand alone, or with very little mixture, nor that of any Dung: So Melons are said to grow in Jamaica; and some vast Timber-trees have little or no mould adhering to their roots; such is that beautiful stranger, the Japan-Lilly, call'd by those of Garnsey (from whence we onely have them) La belle de nuit; and a certain Palm of the same Japan, which shrinks and drys at the least touch of Water, as if it were layd before the fire, which is, it seems, the onely remedy that restores it, or the suddain re­planting it in Scales of Iron, or the most burning Sand: But what if Sand it self, however vulgar­ly reputed, be not so hot, or in­teriourly [Page 74] ardent, as 'tis given out to be? Indeed, for being of an open and loose contexture, 'tis apt to put forth a forward spring, as more easily admitting the solar rayes; but it does not continue, and is an infirmity which may be remedied with Loam, which not onely unites it closer for the pre­sent, but is capable in time to alter and change its very nature also, so as too hot a Compost be no ingredient with it.

Here I take notice, that Hus­bandmen observe, a too clean and accurate gathering of Stones from off those Grounds, which lie almost cover'd with them, rather impoverishes than improves it, especially where Corn is sown; by exposing it to Heat and Cold. Certain it is, that where they are not too gross, and plentiful, a moderate interspersion of the smal­ler Gravel preserves the Earth both warm, and loose, and from [Page 75] too suddain exhalation; whilst the over-fine grain, or too nice a sisting, makes it apt to consti­pate, and grow stiff upon wet­ting; so as the tender Seedlings can hardly issue through; and this is a document for ignorant Gardiners, who, when they have a fine Flower, think they can never make the ground fine e­nough about them.

Chalky Grounds come next to be consider'd, and they should be treated like Gravel, Sand, and Stony, if harsh; but if of the melting kind, 'tis apt to mix with all the sorts of moulds, and being of it self so husbanded, composes a kind of natural Soil fit for most uses, sought for and of admirable effect in dry Grounds.

Here now of Course something we are to speak concerning Cal­cinations, all reducings of Stone into ashes being of excellent use, where Lime is upon any occasion [Page 76] proper; and indeed all our Com­posts and Dungings serve but to this end, namely, so to qualifie, and mix the Soil, as may arti­ficially answer to the varieties of the natural Earth, or such a Con­stitution of it, as the skilful Hus­bandman requires: As for In­stance (since all fertility is the result of mixture contrary in qua­lity) if it want due heat, to apply additions of a fiery nature; and therefore 'twere profitable, if in the using Lime with Turse, and Smarth, it were laid alternatively, Turse on Lime, and Lime on Turse, in heaps for six months, by which means, it will become so mel­low (and rich in nitrous Salts) as to dissolve, and run like Ashes, and carry a much more cherishing Vigour, than if amassed in great­er quantity; and so, by a too vi­olent application, burn out, and exhaust the vegetative vertue which it should preserve. There [Page 77] is (by the way) this caution to be us'd in burning of Earth, that tho what is torrified into blackness, will exceedingly fructifie; yet, if it proceed to adustion beyond that degree, it consumes the Ni­ter, which is the principle would be preserved; as we shall come to shew, when we speak of Salts, which we are the most carefully to keep intire, in all our animal or other Composts: If once the nitrous spirit be quite mortifi'd, the Earth produces nothing, till being long expos'd, it have at­tracted a fresh supply to give it life and prepare it for conception: For otherwise, all moderate burn­ings, yea, and even sometimes (to appearance) immoderate (as that of Rose-trees, Reeds, and some other, which makes them bear and come the better,) is ex­cellent manure, as we see it in Straw and Stubble, enrich'd as they are with Salts; and if the [Page 78] very Earth be roasted with the fire, it solves obstructions, laxes the Pores, renders them attractive of the Influences, and to cherish with its warmth; and the more simple and unmixt the Ashes be, in relation to what the Ground pro­duces, it is the better: For as Weeds bring Weeds, so the Ashes of Fruits and Berries (being burnt) dispose to bring forth the same; so as no treatment of the seminal rudi­ments whatsoever, seems totally of power to annihilate their ver­tue; so strict is the Union of the parts, from whence their Form does result. The Calcination then of Earth alone, not onely dis­poses it to produce great variety, but, if it be intense, increses the very weight of the Mould; whe­ther from a certain magnetisme which it thereby contracts (which fortifies it to draw the proper ali­ment more powerfully) or upon what other account, let the cu­rious examine.

[Page 79] I come next to Marle, of excel­lent use to fix light Sand and dry Grounds; some are for the White and Grey, others the Blew and Red (which I think the best,) ac­cording as 'tis more or less apt to resolve after wetting; but nei­ther of them discovering their vertue for the first year: It does incomparably on Pastures; some on Arable, a good Coat of Com­post, suitable to the land, being first spread, where you will lay it: If your Marle be very unctu­ous and rich, apply it less copi­ously; the too thick covering is the worst extream; nor is it al­wayes to be us'd without allay and mixture with other proper Soil; for some Marle is more Sandy and gritty than other, and should be qualified with a Con­trary: Give lean and emaciated Earth, a covering of the fattest Marle; hot and dry to the cold and moist: And this is also to be [Page 80] observ'd in the applications of all other Composts and Medica­tions.

Marsh, and Churlish Earth will be Civiliz'd, by the rigour and discipline of two Winters; bis frigora, is the old method to make the stubborn Clod relent; and with the mixture of a little Sand, if it be too close of Body, it will become excellent Mould.

Clay is of all other a curst Step­dame to almost all Vegetation, as having few or no Meatus's for the percolation of the alimental showers, or expansion of the Roots; whether it be the Vo­racious, Hungry, Weeping or Cold sort: In these cases, Laxa­tives are to be prescrib'd, such as Sand, Saw-dust with Marle, or Chalk, and continual vexing it with the Spade or Plow; but a­bove all, with Sea-Sand, where it may be procur'd, and the burn­ing of the Ground to ashes, and [Page 81] all that it bears, the more the bet­ter; for by no less severity will this ill-natur'd Mould be subdu'd: Rotten wood, and the bottom of bavine-stacks, is good ingredient to this manure; and if it be a cold and wet sort, strewings of soot is good; if very stiff, rubbish of brick, limestone, and such trash may properly be laid at the bot­tom, and on the upper part com­posts of dung; for otherwise no limings (which being sleckt is raw and cold) may at any hand be ap­plyed, especially the hungry sort, which (as also most kinds of Marsh-earth) is subject to chasm, and gape in dry seasons; to pre­vent which, a discreet mixture of ashes and sand is us'd, for if it be in excess, it over-heats the lat­ter.

I do not reckon Loames among the Clays, though it seem to be but a succulent kind of Argilla, imparting a natural ligament to [Page 82] the Earth where you mix it, espe­cially the more friable; and is therefore of all other the most excellent mean between extreams, fastening and uniting that which is too loose, cooling that which is hot, and gently entertaining the moisture. The Flower-Garden cannot be without a mixture of it, nor well any fruit, especially the best Cider Apples, so it be ac­companied with a lighter soil.

To summ up all we have said concerning Natural Improve­ments by mixtures of Earth with Earth, rather than Dungs; let us hear my Lord Bacon. He reckons up Marle, Chalk, Sea-sand, mould upon mould, pond-earth with Chalk, and the several blendings and tempering of them; among all which, Marle we find to carry the preeminence with his Lordship, as the most pinguid, rich, and least over-heating; next to this, Sand, as the most abounding in [Page 83] salt; chalk more heating, and therefore proper for Clay; cold and spewing grounds, being suffer'd to lye a competent time to re­solve before you turn it in; earth on earth that is (I suppose he means) the under part upon the upper, or the second spit on the first, as we have all along direct­ed at the breaking of fresh ground with the spade.

Another mixture he commends (and which we have likewise newly touched) of substances, which are not meer Earth, as Soot, Ashes, not the hard and dry Cinders of Sea-coal (which we are too busie with about this Town, where the ground is na­turally too hot and dry) but such as is apt to relent, and even the sprinkling of Salt, where it is wisely sown.

A third is, the permitting Ve­getables, abounding in fixed salts, to dye into the ground, as Pease­halm, [Page 84] Bracks, all sorts of Stubble cast on about the beginning of Winter: So leaves of Trees min­gled with Chalk, and proper compost of dungs, to heat and preserve the ground from sowr­ing with them, when they are us'd alone.

A fourth is (what we have also touch'd) heat and comfort, pro­cur'd by Calcinations, the burn­ing of Ling, Heath, Sedge; co­vering the ground with bushes for a time; enclosures of walls and mounds, when the land lies in the eye of the weather, and in other cases, meridian exposures, and the warmth of the woolly fleeces of sheep as well as manure, folded or pastur'd: And to this we may add the very grazing of Cattle, which in some cases has succeeded better than the best dungy compost, especially for old and decay'd Orchards, which have been observ'd to re­cover [Page 85] to admiration, when mow­ing has been pernicious; for even the biting of Cattel gives a gentle loosening to the roots of the her­bage, and makes it to grow fine and sweet, and their very breath and treading, as well as soil, and the comfort of their warm bo­dies is wholsom, and marvel­lously cherishing: But this is to be understood of places where the stems are of full growth, and where the beast cannot reach to crop.

Lastly, Irrigation, and water­ing, both by admitting and ex­cluding moisture at pleasure: And certainly, this has (since his Lord­ships time) been found one of the richest improvements that ever was put in practice; especially, where they have the command of fat and impregnate waters, with­out grittiness, or being over­harsh and cold; whether it per­colate through rich ground, or, [Page 86] which is better, descending from eminences, and moderate decli­vities, from whence we find the Vallies so luxurious and flourish­ing.

To this belongs the cure of wet and boggy Lands, by cutting Trenches deeper than the cause of the evil, which proceeds from some conceal'd springs, hinder'd from emerging forth by the slug­gish incumbent earth: This makes the ground to heave and swell, but not giving vent, to stagnate and corrupt both the water and the mould about it: And though it lie loose and hollow; yet it ga­thers no vigour from above, but remains cold and insipid. The remedy is, opening the ground till you meet with a sound bottom, and cutting your Furrow upwards to the Bog, a­bout a foot beneath the spewing water: This is to be done in se­veral places, and when the drains [Page 87] appear to have wrought the effect, you may fill them up again with sprag and bavine, great and rough flint, brick-bats, tile­shards, horse bones, or any other rubbish, which will remain loose and hollow, and cover them with the grassy side of the turff which you pared off, and laid apart; on that throw your other Mould, which being cast up in heaps for some time, will be much im­prov'd with spreading; lastly, sow it over with hay-seeds.

But the Cure is yet easier, if the Land lye considerably slo­ping; and if it happen to be a planted Ground, then cut your Trench deeper than the roots of your Trees, and apply the fore­said rubbish to intercept the moi­sture. About the latter end of October, trench the Ground all over, for near a foot and a half in depth, and when you are come within three or four foot of the [Page 88] stemm, cut off all their larger roots sloping inwards, sparing only the fibers, and such of them as you find tender, and about as big as your finger; leaving also the more perpendicular to keep the Tree steady: This done, cast­in some rubbish of brick-bats, limestone (not chalk) and other materials, that the Mould may lye easie about them, and with a mixture of good Earth, plenty of rotten stubble, or other soil, ap­ply it near the Root, and fill your Trench with the rest; and if your Ground require it, (as being too cold it commonly does) add to your compost the Dung of Sheep, Pigeons or Poultry very well con­sum'd: And because Moss is oft­ner caused by starving and wet Grounds, than by hot and over dry (for both produce it) the Cure is likewise to be effected by Ablaqueation and baring the Roots, as above; and for the [Page 89] latter, by a mixture of Loame, with the scouring of Pond or ditch-Earth, which of it self is the most excellent manure; and the planting your Trees at greater intervals, for admission of Air and Sun; since the scraping of it off (which may also be done in wet weather) is but temporary, and if nothing else be perform'd, it will be sure to grow again.

Lands which are cold and dry, are (as we have hinted) to be im­prov'd by contraries; namely by application of composts, which are hot and moist; as Sheeps­dung, burning and calcining of the Earth, with the Vegetables on it, and the like, to excite heat and fermentation; but which is not to be effected without repug­nant remedies, and such as are of heterogeneous parts, to stir and lift up the Mould, and render it less unactive. If it be cold and clinging, as frequently 'tis found, [Page 90] there lime, rubbish, sea-coal-ashes, a moderate sprinkling of sand, with some proper compost may perform the Cure.

Hungry Grounds require to have the cause well look'd in­to; the water turn'd, (as above directed) or if it want, such as is well enrich'd.

Lands that are hot and burn­ing, allay with Swines-dung, as (say some) the coldest; or with Neats, which will certainly re­fresh it.

For Earth which is too light, there's nothing better than Pond­mudd, after a winter has pass'd upon it.

Earth over-rank (for there may be some too fat, as well as too lean,) sand and ashes will take down; but still with regard to what you design to plant upon it; neither the Almond, nor the Ha­sel will indure a wanton Mould; and though it seem a Paradox, [Page 91] that any Soil should be too rich, (upon which some Critics have suspected the Text in Theophra­stus, Lib.2 [...] Cap. 5, 6. which asserts it twice in two successive Chapters;) 'tis yet a Truth indubitable, and holds as well in Plants as Animals, which growing very fat, are seldom pro­lific. Some on the contrary are so emaciate, and lean, dry, and insipid, as hardly any pains will make them fruitfull. Such are Minerals, and Metalic Soils, de­vouring clays, light and ashy­sands; so again are putrid and fungous; others, though fruit­full, producing only venemous Plants, Hemlock, and the deadly Aconitum; and some, though wholesom ground, may be poi­son'd with unskilfull or mali­cious mixtures, and with damps and Arsenical vapours, which sometimes (though natural) are but accidental, and for a season, as when after extraordinary [Page 92] drouths, and stagnant air, the Earth hath not been seasonably open'd, refresh'd and ventilated.

Moreover, Ground is some­times barren, and becomes un­fruitful by the vicinity of other Plants, sucking and distracting the juice of the Earth from one to another: For thus we see the Reed and Fern will not be made to dwell together; Hemlock and Rue are said to be inimicous; the Almond and the Palm, which are seldom fruitful but in Conjuga­tion; and perhaps there are Ef­fluvia, or certain inconspicuous steams of dusty seeds, which not only impregnate places where ne­ver grew any before, but issue likewise from one to another, as in our Junipers and Cypress I ob­serve, flowering about April; which are Trees of Consort, and thrive not well alone. The Fi­cus never keeps her fruit so well, as when planted with the Capri­fic. [Page 93] By what irradiations the Myr­til thrives so with the Fig; the Vine affects the Elme and Olive (which is at Antipathy with the Oake, and imparts also such a bit­terness to the Mould, as kills Let­tuce, and other subnascent Plants) is hard to say; and why some af­fect to live in crowds, others in solitude: But that Firrs, Pines, Cedars, Elmes, and divers other Trees aspire, and grow so tall in society, may be (as from other causes) so from their not over­glutting themselves with nourish­ment (for Compost is not their de­light) which inclines them rather to shoot upwards, than expand and spread.

Lastly, by shade Ground is ren­der'd barren, and by the dripping of umbragious trees: To these Air and Sun may be soon restor'd, by removing of the skreens which intercept them; and yet all shade is not unpropitious, where the [Page 94] Soil and Climate are benign, as well as that which casts the um­brage; and of this we have a no­table instance somewhere a­mongst the Astomori even in A­frica, where the soil and the air are reported to be so genial, that the Olive is said to grow under the Date-tree, the Fig under the Olive, under the Fig-tree the Gra­nade, under that the Vine, under the Vine a crop of Corn, and at the feet of the Corn a certain pulse; none of them impeded by the more than reduplicated shades. But there are some, we must confess, amongst us, which are not so propitious; Trees of all sorts (though the perennial Greens least) breath as much af­ter the air as the soil, and do not thrive without it; nor except it be wholesom.

But to return to barren Earths, which are either out of heart, by being spent, or from the nature [Page 95] of the soil (in both which, the Plants which they produce, though never so unprosperous, run hastily to seed, or make an offer,) they are to be restored by the Plow, the Spade and the Rake, by stirring and repose, appositi­ons and mixtures of Earth, Cal­cinations and Composts; and a­bove all, by the eye of the Ma­ster, and dust of his feet, as the Italian Proverb has it. For after this Process, and innumerable o­ther Tryals (mixtures of things being endless) all other sorts of Earths and imperfect Moulds may be treated and meliorated; namely, if it be too hard and close, to mollifie and relax it; if too loose, to give it ligature and binding; if too light, ballast; if too meagre, to fasten and impinguate it; if too rich and luxurious, e­maciate and bring it down; if too moist, apply exsiccatives; if too cold, fermenting Composts; [Page 96] if excessive hot, to cool and re­fresh it; for thus (as we said) Earths should be married toge­ther like Male and Female, as if they had Sexes; for being of so many several complexions, they should be well confider'd and match'd accordingly; and for this you see what choice I have presented you of Sand, Ashes, Chalk, Lime, Marle, mixture of Mould, Calcinations, Air, Sun, Dew, Rain, Frosts and Snows, Trenching, Drilling, Watering, Infusions, and finally, of Animal Stercorations, and other com­posts, which is the next, and last part of this (I fear) over-tedious Discourse: Since indeed it is not sufficient to find out even the best and most grateful Mould in na­ture, so as to relie for ever upon the same performance, without supplys of all sorts; stirring and repose, constant dressing, and (af­ter all we have said) artificial [Page 97] laetations; likewise to encourage and maintain it in vigour.

We proceed then in the next place to what farther advance­ment we may expect from Sterco­ration, and manuring the ground by Composts, and to discover the qualities, which may be latent in their several ferments, and how to apply them by a skilfull and phi­losophical hand, without which they do alwayes more hurt than good; and therefore first we will enumerate their several kinds, and next inquire, what it is we chiefly seek for, and expect from them; and lastly, how to treat them so as may render them fit­ting for our service.

From Animals we have the Soil of Horses, and beasts of bur­den, Neats, Sheep, Goats, Hogs, Pigeons, Poultry, and Fenny-fowle: We have also Flesh, Fat, Blood, Hair, Feathers, Vrine, shavings of Horn, Hoofs, Leather, Skins, [Page 98] Fish, Garbage, Snail-mud, &c. From Vegetables, (as of nearest affinity) we have Vine-cuttings, Stalks, fall'n Leaves, Marc of the Wine and Cider-presses, Lees of Wine, Oyl, rotten Fruit, Gourds, Weeds, Fern, Haulme, Stubble, rotten Wood, Saw-dust; refuse of the Tan-pit, Sea-woad, Linnen Clowts and Old Rags; also Brine, Pickle, Ashes, Soot; and of things promiscuous, Washing of Dishes, Bucks, Barrels, Soap-suds, Slime, and Scouring of Ponds, and High­wayes, Dust, Sweepings: In summ, whatsoever is apt to rot and con­sume in any competent time, and is either salt, unctuous or fatty: To which let me add, impregna­ting Rains and Dews, cold and dry Winters, with store of Snow, which I reckon equal to the rich­est Manures, impregnated as they are with Celestial Nitre. But with all these Auxiliaries, we are not yet to imagine, that any [Page 99] of them are therefore profitable and good, because they retain an heady scent; are hot, moist, rot­ten and slippery, fat or unctuous, and the like, which are all quali­ties, that alone, and of themselves, effect little, till they are correct­ed and prepar'd; but, for that a­mongst these materials we detect the causes of fertility more emi­nently than in other substances; partly from their fixed salts, or some virtue contain'd in them, or rather drawn from without, and imparted to the exhausted and defective Earth; and that by such a process, as by converting them into a Chyle (as it were) it faci­litates their being insum'd, assimi­lated, and made apt to pass into nourishment, promoting vegeta­tion. This obtain'd, the next thing is, how skilfully to apply what we have prepar'd; and this indeed is a difficulty worthy the heads as well as hands of the pro­foundest [Page 100] Philosopher; since it re­quires a more than superficial knowledge and penetration into causes.

We know indeed, that the Earth is without any Artificial Auxiliaries, indu'd with a won­derful prolific virtue; but this, for being possible to be lost and decay, (at least for a longer time than our necessities can support) and from some grounds never to be expected without such helps, it may be worth our while a little to consider, by what expedients of digestion, or other wayes, the desir'd effect of perpetuating its vigour might best be accom­plish'd.

That the secret we enquire af­ter, and which does most appa­rently seem to evirtuate towards this end, is some Salt, I suppose is generally agreed: For Salt it is which gives ligature, weight, and constitution to things, and is [Page 101] the most manifest substance in all Artificial Composts.

'Tis the Salts, which intice Roots to affect the upper and sa­line surface of the Earth, upon which the Nitrous Rains and Dews descend, and the cause that some Plants, the most racy, and charg'd with juice of all other, (for such is the Vine) thrive so well amongst Rocks and Pumices, and in whatever best maintains this vital pickle.

'Tis Salt, which makes all co­ver'd and long shaded Earths to abound in fertility, and renders the dung of Pigeons, Poultry, and other Salacious Corn-fed Birds, so eminently effectual, before the soil of Horses and other Beasts, in which it less abounds, as having less virtue to attract it.

'Tis Salt, that gives such vi­gour to places, sprinkl'd with urine, Soot, Ashes, &c. which have them not diluted; and to [Page 102] Bones, Flesh, Horn, Hair, Fea­thers, Blood, and the rest of those animal excrements: And whence those seminal Masses should pro­ceed after Calcination of the Earth, when it comes to be ex­pos'd again, is hard to divine; whence I say, they should derive their life and energy, without be­ing destroy'd by so powerful an agent as Fire, unless they lurk in some vegetant and indissoluble salts, (volatile, fixed, or nitrous Earth) from whence they Phoenix­like emerge; though I do not say without any other specific rudi­ment: But 'tis strange, what, as I remember Dr. Morison affirms of the Erysimum or Irio, so seldom seen to grow spontaneously in England before the late prodi­gious Conflagration of this City, when there appear'd more of it amongst the Ruines, than was known to grow in all Europe be­sides, it being a curious Exotic, [Page 103] to be found most about Naples in the time of Fabius Colonna, and but rarely elsewhere.

'Tis Salt which resuscitates the dead and mortifi'd Earth, when languishing and spent by our in­dulgence to her verdant Off­spring, her vigour seems to be quite exhausted, as appears by the rains and showers which gent­ly melt into her bosome what we apply to it, and for which cause all our Composts are so studiously made of substances which most ingender or attract it.

'Tis Salt, which fertilizes, and renders Aegypt so luxuriously fruitful after the inundations of Nile; and the Nitrous grounds of Jamaica, and other places, which cause so stupendious a growth of Plants and Trees.

'Tis the want of Salt, which emasculates the virtue of Seeds too long macerated in hungry water, and renders floated wood [Page 104] such unprofitable fuel, and to turn into such insipid ashes; and whatsoever it be some Plants may appear to affect, as to the external differences of appetite, some of them seeming to draw in more Air, some Earth, and others Water in extraordinary measure, according to the several contex­tures of their parts, or by what­ever Magnetisms and attractives, it is still to come at their Salts, which doubtless create that in­clination, compose the various saps and juices which they pre­sent us. Nay, what if I should say, that all the several parts of Vegetables were endow'd with their peculiar and distinct Salts, through different motions, com­plications and percolations? or, that so many Earths, so many kinds of Salts digested and trans­ported by their different Vehicles and strainers; and those also, though unlike in quality, yet per­fectly [Page 105] congruous to what they produce and nourish? But what this Vehicle or Menstrue is, I con­tend not; 'tis evident, that Salts unite best with water, Vernal and Autumnal Showers and Dews, as the most apt to convey their in­sinuations. You know, who have dignified Salt with the preroga­tive of being nam'd Element-earth, the vigour and close of all things, yea, the first and last of Ele­mentated bodies: What shall I say, quid Divinum, the Original of all fecundity; nor can I say less, since there was nor sacrifice, nor discourse acceptable without it. And verily upon serious con­templation of the premises, and the little experience I have had of their effects, in this work of vegetation, as far as I am able to penetrate into causes by them, I am not displeas'd at the magni­ficent Epithets which are given it. In the mean time, I know there [Page 106] be, who are so averse to this Do­ctrine, as to prefer Water before it, nor contend I with them, so they allow the near affinity and friendship which is between them, as I have deduc'd it at the entry of this Discourse, where I de­scribe my Autoptical observations of the several Earths; all that I pretend from hence, being only to excite us to make diligent enqui­ry, what may more likely be the cause of Vegetation, and whe­ther Salt have not a Dominion almost Monarchical in this great Work of Nature, being so abso­lute an ingredient in all our Dungs and Composts, which I am next going to speak of. I can­not in the mean time but won­der, how a thing so eminently sa­cred, and fertile, should come to be the Symbol of Malediction, when, as the custom was, they us'd to sow Salt on Cities they had curs'd, there being in all Na­ture [Page 107] nothing so pregnant and fruitful, unless it were to invite the Plow to go there, and that the fertility of the spot for Corn and Grain might divert them from rebuilding and covering it again with houses. Indeed to apply Salt in excess, burns the Earth for a time, so as nothing will grow upon it; but when once the rains have well diluted it, it springs up more wantonly than ever: This I daily find by sifting common Salt upon the gravel-walks of my Garden, and for which cause I have left it off; and we find that the Earth it self over-marl'd and too highly ma­nur'd is as unprofitable, as if it were barren for the time, and that there is in all things a just pro­portion to be observed.

But neither all this while do I pretend, much less determine, that the Principle I so much cele­brate, is our common artificial [Page 118] Salt, compos'd of Urine, and the like, which of it self is so burn­ing and destructive, till its aci­dity be qualified by the air and showers from heaven (which en­dows it with a natural magnetism, to receive their irradiant virtues;) but a certain more unctuous spirit, or airy Nitre, pregnant with a vi­tal Balm, which is the thing we endeavour to find in these mate­rials of Composts: But whether it be accidental, or essential, cor­poreal, or more spiritual, princi­pal, or organical; or (to speak with the Chymists, and later Ato­mists,) whether communicated by effluvias, salts embryonate, or in­digested and not specificate; from ferments, spermatic vapours, in­fluences Celestial, or from liquor only impregnated and concocted, I leave to those who affect to wrap up easie notions in hard and uncertain terms, whilst the thing would be of use to the Phi­losophical [Page 109] Husband-man, were their reduction into just Classes, for the better discriminating of the several Composts; as what there's of them most abounds in Nitrous or Vrinous parts; or what of the nature of our crude, common Salts, and Kali's, Mine­ral, or other; and thereby be able to pronounce, where, and how we may apply them with safety and success: For some we know are plainly exitial and deadly to plants (such as the Mi­neral,) others properate too fast; and some are sluggish, and scarce advance them at all. It would therefore be consider'd, whether any Salts do universally nourish all Plants alike? or rather partly, some one Plant, some another; for upon the clear decision of this secret depends all that is truly curious in this affair; laying, as I do, for position, that the im­provement of all the Earths and [Page 110] Soils I have spoken of, results from some Salt or Spirit (call it which you please) as from an in­dispensable Principle in this of Vegetation, and perhaps the first rudiment of life in all things else: And till we shall arrive to this (by what I have observ'd in the discreet use even of our common Salt, brine, the effects of Vrine and the like,) I firmly believe, that, were Salt-Peter (I mean fi­ctitious Nitre) to be obtain'd in Plenty, we should need but lit­tle other Composts to meliorate our Ground; since, whether that which so fertilizes it, by any mix­ture we can yet devise, effect it from any other cause, is greatly to be doubted; nor do I think, but the charge of extracting it, (at lest sufficient to impregnate Water in convenient quantity) might be compass'd by the indu­strious Farmer without much in­convenience, or the least difficul­ty, [Page 111] were he competently instru­cted in the process of Calcination, Resolution, Percolation, Evapora­tion and Separation, put into ho­nest English, and easily to be learn'd: Soon we should then see, that this were not to be extracted altogether out of stinking dung, and found in heady trash (which yet is material) but rather in the well-impregnated and natural Mould it self, charg'd with a more generous spirit, or medicinal Ni­tre (in congress with a certain sul­phur) capable to warm, and ex­cite to vegetation, beyond all we can promise from any meer arti­ficial ferments, much less our com­mon mixtures, and wayes of ster­coration, which in time grow cold and languish, and are so quickly check't.

And now after all this, I dare not say, that there is nothing more than this meer Salt, or spi­rituous Nitre, which concurrs to [Page 112] those desir'd effects, that promote fertility, and set the ferment on working: What ignite particles beside, and special Composts there may be of consanguinity and near alliance to the respective vegetables (which we know to be of vast difference one from ano­ther,) we pretend not to deter­mine; for some Plants are very brisk and quick, others insulse and flat; some are acid, others more dulcorous and sweet; they are salt, sowre, luscious, austere, hot, bitter, moist, dry, astringent, and of strangely different quali­ties, not to speak of their effects, which it were hard to number. Therefore, that the same Compost, or remedy should be promiscu­ously universal, is the more un­likely, and would be well con­sider'd: But admitting this to be salvable, and that we find by ex­perience, a well digested Com­post beneficial to almost all the [Page 113] vegetable Family; may it not in all probability spring from its par­ticipation of all those varieties of ferments, (in some at least, though in different proportion) which we have been speaking of? as by which each single species draws and assimilates that only to it self, which it finds most amicous and congruous to its nature; and if so it be, then have we no more to do, than to learn how to pre­pare our Ferments, and apply them accordingly; namely, acid to acids, sweet to sweets, benign to benign, and so the contrary, as we would promote its natural quality; and this perhaps, either by reducing some parts of them into Composts, as their leaves, stalks, fruit; or by some more re­fin'd extraction of their Salts, con­vey'd in proper vehicles. And for the better administring of this, the nicer textures of vegetables should diligently be consider'd; [Page 114] their several vessels, and Organic parts, since every impregnate li­quor is not presently fit for all a­like; the figuration of their La­biola, and curious pores (which 'tis likely draw several juices and spirits) being very different; as the most sagacious Doctor Grew, and learn'd Malpigius (both Or­naments of this Illustrious So­ciety) have begun, (I think I may say) well nigh perfected the way to us, in those elaborate Anato­mizations, which the world will shortly admire. I insist the rather on this, because we find some Plants to reject divers rich com­pounded liquors, especially such as pretend to work Miracles in the Protean changes of colours, and other qualities, from mineral or other substances; and that the very Rains and Dews differ in several Climes: So as even from this reason alone, to instance in no more, all Plants do not easily [Page 115] become denizons in all places:

I might add to this the niceness of their palates, and fondness to their own homes, and to live some in consort, some in solitude, some on dry banks, some in wa­try puddles, and some as it were in the very air, and fiery soils; nay, some which are found to de­stroy the vegetable virtue where they grow; for such are said to be Odde, Hemp, &c. and if it be true and constant, that all our im­bibitions of Salts and Composts signifie little to Earth pre-impreg­nated with a salt or virtue, diffe­rent from what the Plant does na­turally delight in, some obscure footsteps of which every Plow­man seems to discover, which makes him change the Crop in some places yearly: For the first, second, or third burden of the [Page 116] same grain, especially Wheat, will exhaust that which is its proper aliment, and then leave the rest to more ignoble grain, which will be found to thrive well enough, till at last several successions of different Seeds quite wear it out, and then it must repose, or be manur'd with Composts for fresh life and vigour. And to this we may add, how some Plants again require little change, or help of Art; such as most of the Peren­nial Greens, and amongst these, the most resinous and oylie, as the Pine, Firr, Cedar, &c. which thrive on barren Hills, and grow in Rocky Crannies, without any Earth almost to cover and pro­tect their Roots. Of this sort I have a Cedar-Table, which was saw'd out of a Spur only of a monstrous Tree growing in the Barbadoes, which held six foot long, five foot broad, and three inches thick, form'd and wrought [Page 117] as it stands upon the frame; and his Royal Highness; had another of a much larger dimension, namely eighteen foot in length, and nine in breadth, cut out of the Stem, which was of prodigi­ous growth, to be fed and nou­rish'd as it was between the bar­ren Rocks. But to proceed; we find that most esculent and culi­nary Roots do rather chuse a rich, natural and light Mould, incli­ning to sand, than what is forc'd, or over-muck't; and how much they yield to soil, growing hard, short and fibrous, and contract the smell and relish of the fer­ments, apply'd to accelerate their growth (for according to the Italian Proverb, Ogni pianta serba della sua radice, Every Plant has a smack of the Root) I have already mention'd; so as to confide in Dungs, as our vul­gar Gardners about this City do, is no incouragement; and there­fore [Page 118] some, not without good rea­son, prefer the Corn and Grain which is reap'd from Marle, Chalk, Lime, and other more natural Manure, before what is produc'd from a Crop which grows on a Dung-hill in comparison; expe­rience also shewing, that the cause of smuttiness many times proceeds from the impurity, and rankness of the dressing; and therefore we omit to enumerate amongst our Soils, Stercus humanum, which howsoever preferr'd by some be­fore all other, and mention'd by Columella with that of Fowl and Cattel, does, unless exceedingly ventilated and air'd, perniciously contaminate the odor of Flowers, and is so evident in the Vine, as nothing can reconcile it.

To give some instances of the nature of particular and simple Composts, (for so I take leave to use a Solecism, till they are blend­ed together with the rest, as we [Page 119] shall afterwards shew) what ever they be, they are by no means fit for the Earth, and use of the Husband-man, unless, besides their richness, they be perfectly well digested, made short, sweet, and almost reduc'd to a crumbling Mould; so order'd, as not only not to lose any of their virtue, but improve it, and to excite, en­tertain, and communicate heat, and vegetative Spirits to what you shall apply them: And that this is not done per se, that is, by immediate application, without prejudice (unless it be for the Hot-Bed, which yet has an Interme­dium of Mould) experience tells us, especially in the soil of Ani­mals, which is of all other the most active, as consisting of He­terogeneous parts, and repugnan­cies, without which no fermenta­tion could be obtain'd. Now since many of these being freshly made, are not only sensibly hot, [Page 120] but mordacious and burning, they are with caution to be us'd. That every kind of Earth (as well as the Dung of Beasts, &c.) has its peculiar ferment, and operates accordingly, either by attracting something to it, or embasing what approaches it, sufficient has been said; together with directions how to mingle and attemper it, as best may qualifie it for Culture. That we may do the like with the several sorts of Soil, let us consider what their natures are, what their correctives, and how to apply them.

Horse-dung, the least pinguid and fat of any, taken as it falls, being the most fiery, excites to sudden fermentation above any; wherefore, as we said, 'tis then fit only for the Hot-Bed, and when that fervour's past, may be spread on fields, where we would have a rank Grass to spring; but is at no hand to be admitted into the [Page 121] Garden, or where you desire good Roots should grow, unless the ground be very cold or wet, and then too it had need be well rotted, lest, instead of curing it, it leave couch, and pernicious weeds, worse than the Disease; the seeds of Hay, and other Plants, of which the Horses eat, coming oftentimes intire from them: And such vege­tables do commonly spring up from the Soil of Cattel, of which they chiefly eat; as long knot­grass from this Beast; short, clean and sweet pasture from Sheep and Cows; the Sonchus, or Sow-thi­stle from the Swine: So as ground muck'd with Horse-dung is al­wayes the most infected of any, and if it be not perfectly con­sum'd, it makes your Roots grow forked, fills them with worms, and imparts to them an unpleasing re­lish; but being laid on at the be­ginning of winter, and turn'd-in at spring, it succeeds sometimes with Pulse.

[Page 122] The Soil of Asses is highly e­steemed, for its being better di­gested by the long mastication and chewing of that dull Animal; but since we have no quantity of it in this Country, it does the less concern us.

Neats Dung, of all other is uni­versally the most harmless, and the most useful; excellent to min­gle with sandy and hot grounds, lean or dry, and being apply'd before winter, renders it the most like natural Earth, and is there­fore for the Garden and Orchard preferr'd to any other. To use it therefore with the most certain success in such thirsty Grounds, apply a plentiful surface of it, so blended, as the rain and showers may wash in the virtue of it throughly; but this is best done by making the Dung the finer, and then working it in at a soak­ing wet (not stormy) season, and then leaving it also cover'd with [Page 123] it for some time, if the rain de­scend in too great excess.

The next is Sheeps Dung, which is of a middle temper between that and Pigeons; profitable in cold Grounds, and to impregnate liquors, of choise use in the Gar­den.

The Dung of Swine is esteem'd the coldest and least acrimonious (though some there be who con­tradict it) and therefore to be ap­ply'd to burning Lands; but al­wayes so early interr'd, as never to appear above ground, where it is apt to produce weeds in a­bundance, from the greedy de­vouring of what it eats. This, though not so proper for the Gar­den, is said yet to edulcorate and sweeten fruit so sensibly, as to con­vert the bitterest Almond into sweet, and therefore recom­mended, above all others, for ex­periments of change and altera­tion: Some qualifie it with bran, [Page 24] or chaff well consum'd, greatly comfortable to Fruit-Trees, but especially the hairs and bristles, buried about the Roots of Pear-Trees.

Pigeons Dung, and that of Poul­try (especially of Aquatic Fowls which is too fiery) full of vola­tile salts, is hot and burning, and therefore most applicable to the coldest ground. There is no­thing so effectual to revive the weak and languishing Roots of Fruit-trees, laid early to them; but first be sure they pass their mordicant and piercing spirits, and be discreetly mixt.

Very efficacious is this Dung, to keep frost out of the Earth, and therefore of great use to co­ver the Mould in Cases of Exotic and tender Plants; but if the heat be not well qualified, the very steam will kill them in a moment; therefore let a full winter pass over this laetation for most uses. [Page 125] The best way of preparing it, is to reduce it into powder, and mingle it with the Mould, and to water with its infusion, which alone does wonders; or, if it have been well expos'd and abated, you may use it at the spring with­out addition: But if you desire something that is exquisite, ma­cerate it well rotted in the Lees of Wine, stale Vrine, and a little Brimstone beaten very fine, to mingle with your Earth, for one of the richest Composts. Then is this only to be noted, that, as the effect of this Dung is suddain, so it lasts not long, and therefore must be the oftner renewed.

The flesh of Carrion, and dead Animals, being (as, I think, my Lord Bacon tell us) prepar'd al­ready by so many curious Elabo­rations of its juices, is highly ef­fectual; but it should be very well consum'd, and ventilated, till it have quite lost its intole­rable [Page 126] smell, and therefore never apply'd too crude.

Blood is excellent almost with any Soil where Fruit is planted, especially the Mural, to improve the blood of the Grape of great advantage, being somewhat di­luted, and pour'd about the Roots.

Vrine, for being highly spiri­tous and sharp, had need be well corrected, and then, being mingl'd with other Composts to allay its acrimonious salt, it hardly has its equal.

Hair, Horn-shavings, Bones, Skins, Leather, &c. are deeply to be buried, and so as not to touch but lie about the Roots: These, with Rags, course Wooll and Pitch-Marks, improve the Earth, as being full of volatile salts: And Fish is likewise spread to great advantage of Grounds, where 'tis to be had in plenty; and for being quickly consum'd, [Page 127] may soonest be apply'd. We come to Vegetables.

The Marc and pressings of the Grape are good Compost, and so is the Lees of Wine, mingled with the Mould: It is of singular com­fort to the Roots of Orange-trees, and Case-Plants; and if you sift a little brick-dust with it, and bury it near the Roots of Rose-Mary, it will thrive wonderful­ly. It may be a laudable Com­post for moist grounds, where that Plant so unwillingly grows.

The Leaves of Trees are pro­fitable for their own Fruit, and natural, being well rotted, and not musty: The Peach-leaf, hurt­full to Cattel, is excellent for the Tree from which it falls; and the Walnut-leaf, noxious to the grass, is helpfull to the Tree.

Saw-dust, Rotten wood, found in the hollow of decay'd Trees, under the stacks, and where Trees grow thick together, as in great [Page 128] and old Woods, but especially, that which is taken out of an in­veterate Willow-Tree, is prefer­able to any other for the raising of Seedlings of choice Plants, mix'd as it should be with a little Loam, Lime-rubbish and Mould, as we have taught. This, and the rest should be well ventilated, and is of great effect to loosen and mellow ground.

Wood-ashes, rich and impreg­nate with salts, are fit for wet Ground without mixture, and in pasture, excellent, not sift­ed-on over thick: It likewise kills the Worm; but in Earth which is subject to over-heat and chap much, Ashes and burning Composts do but increase the feavor, and therefore contrary remedies are to be sought; such as Neats and Swines Dung, but not so when Lands are naturally or accidentally cold: Wherefore we should endeavour by all means [Page 129] to detect, as far as we are able, the quality predominant both of the Earth we would improve, and the Composts we apply, and not throw them on promiscuously up­on every thing without consider­ing of what temper and consti­tution they be; for Grounds are as nice as our Bodies, and as ob­noxious to infirmities upon every defect and excess; and therefore it requires skill, and no little stu­dy to be able rightly to marshal this Materia Medica (as I may call it) of Composts, the virtue of which does sometimes lie very hidden; at least, if that be true which Sir Hugh Plat affirms, that what we all this while seek after, is indeed altogether invisible to humane eyes, and to be discern'd only by the eyes intellectual, be­cause 'tis vail'd and clad under so many different bodies, where­of some are more ponderous, such as Marle, Chalk, the Dung of [Page 130] Beasts, &c. some more light, as their Flesh, Bones, Hair, &c. and some yet lighter, as Grain, and generous Seeds; for in such as have Virtue to multiply their own Species, that Spirit is invest­ed with a very thin and curious integument, as in effect is appa­rent in the Blood and Flesh of Animals, so much more power­full for the inriching of Land than their Dung and Excrements; this industrious man computing it to no less than twenty times, and to the same advance above this, Hair, Wooll, and calcin'd Bones, &c. and as to the courser Soils, that the Dung of Pigeons and Poultry does as far exceed that of Beafts which feed on gross Vege­tables; and tells us, it has been found upon experience, that one load of any sort of Seed contains as much Virtue as ten load of or­dinary Dung; and therefore 'tis advisable, that upon all removals [Page 131] of Corn-ricks, Hay-stacks, &c. the Husband-man reserve all he can of the bottom, offal and sha­kings, and to mingle it with Chimney-soot and Blood, and with that to reduce it into the con­sistence of a paste: To this add as much dry'd Neats Dung, tem­per'd with Vrine, and made up in cakes as big as houshold loaves, and after all is well dry'd in the shade, crumble them to dust, to be sifted or sprinkl'd on the ground for a very consider­able improvement.

Of like effect is Earth blended with Malt-dust, or putrified and decay'd Corn reduc'd to Meal; so is the dust of old Fur-bushes, (in Devonshire call'd Dress;) but this last should not be taken in Seed-time, lest it infect the Ground with a Plant not easily extirpable.

Lastly, The Mud of Ponds and stagnant waters of ditches, shovl'd [Page 132] up, and well air'd, is best apply'd to Roots of Trees, but especially the dust of unstony high-wayes, where the drift of Cattel, and much passage is: Let it be car­ried off from March to November; for it being already a kind of re­fined Soil continually stirr'd and ventilated, there is no Compost preferrable to it for any use: It is prepar'd in the highest degree, and will need no wintering, but may be us'd immediately; and so may straw, haulm, and other lit­tiere trampl'd on in dirty streets, after it is a while rotted and min­gled.

Thus with no little industry are found out the several kinds of Composts, and materials of im­provement, and what is the most genuine and true medicament of every Soil for Arable, Pasture or Garden. I do not say all, or as if there were no more; for what if indeed there should be as many [Page 133] sorts of Composts, as there are of Ferments or Salts; and as many sorts of Salts as there be of Vege­tables, or any other putrifiable matter? The more there be, the greater ought to be our industry and skill to be able to distinguish them, and to know how and when rightly to apply them.

Nor is it sufficient to consider the nature of the Earth, Mould, and several Composts, but of the very Plants themselves, for the ap­plication of what you administer, be it for Food or Medicine; as if they be cold of Constitution, to make use of the hotter Com­posts; if hot, to prescribe the cold: For instance in a few of the most useful only:

Fruit-Trees do generally thrive with the soil of Neats and Hogs; most Flowers with that of Sheep, but especially Roots. Peter Hon­dius tells us (in his Book intitl'd Dapes inempt as) that by the sole [Page 134] application of Sheeps-Dung, he produc'd a Reddish-Root in his Garden as big as half a mans mid­dle, which being hung up for some time in a Butchers shop, peo­ple took for an Hog.

Apples affect a pretty rich soil, with a dash of Loam, but they will bear even in Clay well soil'd, and mix'd with Chalk, especially the more winter fruit; and in Chalk alone for some years, but they produce, though sweet, not so large Fruit: But both Apples and Pears have a better relish in Grounds that are not over-moist, and where they may stand warm, and the last will prosper well enough where the soil is mixt with gravel, and has an harder bottom.

Cherries, Summer and Stone-Fruit, such as have their Roots like thrumbs, desire a fine light Mould, Sand or Gravel, with Chalk, and good Compost, un­less [Page 135] it be very course and stony, in which case it would be well soil'd, and the pit you plant in, fill'd with rich Mould, as far as the Roots likely use to extend before they reach the Gravel, so as to make good spread; and this to be renew'd every third or fourth year; and for this reason it is profitable sometimes to bait steril Grounds, by laying your Composts at reasonable intervals, thereby to tempt and allure the Roots towards it, and keep them from wandring, which they will be subject to do in search of fresh nourishment: For to bear con­stantly well, and much, Fruit­trees must have frequent laetati­ons. Nor are we to judge, that what is excellent Ground for one sort, is so for another, since that which is perfectly good for Corn, is not so for all Fruit - Trees, and slender straw will be fed and brought up with a great deal less [Page 136] substance and virtue, than what will serve to furnish the stem, bulk and head of a fertile and spreading Tree.

Vines (than which there is no Plant more sensibly retains the different qualities of Earth, or whose juice is of more variety) rejoyces in light, but vigorous, Mould, rather Sandish, and in­clining to dry, than either fat, luxurious or moist. Lime tem­per'd with Blood, exceedingly re­creates it, after the first acciden­tal heats are pass'd over.

The Fig-tree, (though affected to dry Grounds) is no lover of stercoration, yet in some Coun­tries they apply Oyl-Olive and Doves-dung, to cause them to bear early fruit; but omitting the Oyl, if the Dung be mingl'd with Lime and Ashes, it is not to be reprov'd.

Artichokes thrive exceedingly with Sheeps-dung, which apply'd [Page 137] to the Roots make them produce very great heads.

Melons, Asparagus, and most hasty growers, participate evi­dently of the Soil; and therefore we have already shew'd, how new and heady dung contaminates; and this is (amongst other) the reason why in the more Southern Countries (where they are plant­ed in the natural and unforc'd Mould) they are so racy and su­periour in tast and flavour to ours. I should therefore recom­mend the use of Sheeps-dung, well reduc'd, or rather the ashes of burnt straw, and the hotter dungs calcin'd for some tryals to reform it; or, as they do in Italy, mingle Dust and Earth ma­nur'd with Sheeps-soil and wood­ashes; if after all we have said, the cause of our application of Composts and Dungs to these ra­ [...] and choice productions, be [...] prevent the rains only; for [Page 138] otherwise too rich Soils impair the most delicious Fruits, rather than improve them; and Grapes and other Fruits are sooner ri­pened which stand near the High­wayes, much beaten by passen­gers, than by all that you can lay to the Roots, or spread on the Ground for that purpose, the Dust investing both the Tree and Fruit with a kind of refin'd soil, mellow'd with the dews and gen­tle showers which fall from Hea­ven.

To give some instances; Roots, as we have shew'd, desire deep Ground; Fruit-trees not so, which should never go deeper than the usual penetrations of the Sun; for no farther is the Mould be­nign: Besides that they but too propensely sink of themselves, especially Bulbs of Flowers, whose fibers freeing their bottoms, draw them down, and then they change their artificial and acci­dental [Page 139] beauty, and (as we call it) degenerate; but Trees will grow and thrive, if planted on the very surface, with little covering of Mould, so it be oft refresh'd and establish'd against the wind. Be­sides, we find, that even the goodliest Fruit (as well as some Timber-Trees) have many times the hardest footings, with reason­able depth of Earth: So little does it import to have it pro­found; and therefore in soft and deeper Sands, they thrive no­thing so well, as on Chalk and Gravel, so long as the root can be kept from descending; in which case you should (as we shew'd) bait the Ground towards the sur­face, and keep the roots from gadding too far from the stem; for the lower roots are frequent­ly starv'd by the upper, which devour the nourishment before it arrive at them.

To give some other profitable [Page 140] instances of this nature; In Trans­planting Trees (beginning early, and when the Earth is most tra­ctable) endeavour to make your Mould as connatural to that of the place or nursery from whence you remove them, as you can. 'Tis not therefore material, it should be so much richer; but where Imp-Gardens are poor, the tender Plant (like a Child starv'd at Nurse) does seldom thrive where ever you set them; and therefore they should have fair and spreading roots, and be well fed, what ever some pretend. For other rarer shrubs and Plants, the Orange (Herrera tells us) thrives well with the ashes of burnt Gourds and leaves, and needs not change of Mould, even in the Case, above twice a year, and that towards the surface; but Amomum Plinii is a strange waster of Earth, and should con­tinually be inrich'd and planted [Page 141] as it were all in dung; so the Myrtil and Pomegranat, whilst the Red-rose, Capers, Sampier, and other Shrubs and Plants thrive better in Gravel and rub­bish; Sage with ashes, and so Porselan with dust and sweepings: Rue affects the dry Mould, Lettice the moister; Flowers for the most part detest the Dunghill, but if any, that of Sheep or Neat mixt with Loam and light Earth: Tu­lips delight in change, and rather in poor than rich Mould; yea, sharp and hungry to preserve their variegations: But because 'tis sometimes troublesome to trans­plant them yearly; place a layer of short stable littier a foot be­neath your Mould, and you will find they may remain unremov'd for some years without prejudice. The Iris loves the dry beds; Cro­cus, a mixt, rich and light soil: Carnations would have a Loamy Earth, qualified, if too stiff, with [Page 142] Sea-sand, and Sheeps dung; if too poor, with richer Mould; so the Peöny, Anemony, Ranunculus, and other Flowers; but then lay it at the bottom, such as you take from the last years Hot-bed, giv­ing it a surface of under-turf, which has been foder'd on, sweet and air'd: In this to plant your Roots, but so as not to touch the Soil, but rather let it lie about the Pasture-Earth, in which your Bulbs should alwayes be plant­ed: For all dung'd Earths canker the roots of Flowers, whilst their fibers, reaching the heartier Mould, draw from it without danger. But if you would in­deed be provided of excellent Earth to plant most Flowers in, lay turf of Pasture-ground in heaps for two Winters, till it be perfectly consum'd: This is also admirable for Tuberous roots, and indeed all up-land-mould, whether Sandy or Loamy, may [Page 143] be made perfectly good with Neats-dung laid on the surface about Michaelmas for one year, that it may wash kindly in; then in September after, pare this turff off as thin as you can, and for the first foot depth of Earth, you have bedding for Bulbs and Tube­rous Roots superiour to any o­ther. Another proper mixture (much in esteem with our Gard­ners) is hollow Willow Earth a fourth part, sifted from the grosser sticks, with almost an equal por­tion of Sheeps-dung (Lauremberg says, Goats is better) with a lit­tle natural Mould; and indeed this is excellent to raise any seed­lings of Flowers; but for the more minute and delicate, such as Cypress, Mulberie, the Samera of Elme, and the like, prepare a Mould almost of powder, gently refresh'd with a dewie sperge or brush, not with the watring­pot, which plainly gluts it.

[Page 144] Auricula, Anemonies, &c. should be raised in the Willow­mould describ'd above, but planted forth where Neats-dung and Loam is sifted among the pa­sture Earth.

The Pine and bigger kernels make great advance by being coated with dung, which being grown to great Trees abhor it. Touching change of Crop, some­thing has been said already, and Pease degenerate betimes, at least in two or three years, be the Land never so good; so 'tis observ'd, that most Plants long standing in the same bed, impair both the Ground and themselves, especi­ally Sorel.

To Conclude; for a general good Garden-soil, take the na­tural under-turff, if it be not too stiff; add to it a quarter part of Neat or Sheeps-dung perfectly consum'd; one bushel of sleek'd lime to each load of Mould, with [Page 145] some sweet, though rotten Wood­pile or Willow-Earth, mix it well together; and you have a choice composition for all your rare Ex­otics, Oranges and Case-shrubs; remembring to place the sprag of rotten bavins, hampers or baskets, to keep the Mould loose, with Lime-stone, Brick-bats, Shells and other rubbish at the bottom, that the water may pass freely, and not rot the fibers: And therefore be careful never to make your Cases close below, but rather so barr'd, as to be able to keep the course materials from dropping through, whilst auger-holes (though ne­ver so thick boards) are apt to be stop'd up, and then your roots do certainly rot, and your trees grow sick. The same is to be ob­serv'd in Pots, and that you place them about an inch from ground, that they may freely drain, and as freely receive refreshing. But I must not quit these curiosities, [Page 146] to speak of the cooler Composts, till I have describ'd the best Hot­bed that I know of.

Dig a Pit or Fosse, hot-bed­depth, four foot is sufficient, and of what figure and dimension you think will best entertain your fur­niture for it; if it be twenty foot in length, and ten foot broad, I think it competent: Line the sides with a wall of brick and half thick; fill this pit with fresh soil from the stable, trodden as other hot-beds are, but without any Mould at the surface. In this place Woodden-Cases, made like Coffins, (but not contracted at the extreams, nor lidded) of what length and breadth you think best, but not above a foot in depth; let these be Dove­tail'd, with woodden handles at each end, to lift in and out, and lastly, boar'd full of auger-holes at the bottoms: Your Cases thus fitted, fill them with proper [Page 147] Mould, such as you would sow Melon-seeds in, or any other rare Seed, and thus place them in your bed of dung. The heat will pass kindly through the perfora­tions, and continue a cherishing warmth five times as long as by the common way of Hot-bed, and prevent you the trouble of making new and fresh; for, the whole process of the Melon, or what other of choicer Plants, re­quire more than one removal: The heat of this bed continues eight or ten weeks without need of repairing, and if it should, 'tis but casting in some fresh-made soil and littier, beneath, and a­bout your Cases, of which some you may glaze Cheveron-wise at the top, and with spiracles or casements, to refresh, and give them Air and Sun at pleasure. And these Beds, where you can­not conveniently sink them for want of depth, because of water, [Page 148] you may build above ground as well; and you may, or may not extend a Tent over it, to keep out Rain, Wind and Sun, according as you find occasion. But thus have you a neat and useful hot-bed, as I have been taught to make it by the Right Honourable, the late Lord Vicount Mordant at Par­sons-Green, whose industry and knowledge in all hortulan Ele­gancies requires honourable men­tion.

And now at last I am come to set down the several wayes of preparing Composts of Dungs, and those other ingredients we have mention'd, and begin with the rudest, as that which best ac­commodates to the grosser part of Husbandry (which yet re­quires a special maturation) and so descend to the more refin'd: And these I distinguish into the moist, the dry, and the liquid for Irrigation. But first, here by the [Page 149] way greatly to be reproved is the heaping of a deal of indigested soil, and other trash, expos'd (as commonly we find it) to the heat of the Sun, continual rains, and drying winds, as it lies in the wide field, without the least co­verture or shade; by which means, all the virtue is drawn forth and carried away, leaving little more than a dry and inspid congestion of Caput Mortuum, and perhaps a florid green Circle, or Fairy-Dance at the bottom, which the impregnated rains have inrich'd with what it has wash'd from the heap; wherefore to prevent this, and make one load of our prepared Soil worth ten of it:

Cut a square, or oblong pit of thirty or forty foot in length, at the least four foot in depth, and ten foot over, or of what dimen­sions you think will suffice to fur­nish you with store: Let one of the sides or edges be made so slo­ping [Page 150] as to receive a Cart or Wheel-barrow to load and un­load easily; let the bottom and sides also be so well pav'd, or laid with a bed of small Chalk, Clay, or the like, that it may be capa­ble of retaining water like a Ci­stern: If to this you can commo­diously direct any channels or gutters from your Stable, and o­ther sinks about the house, it will be much the better. The Pit thus prepar'd, and under covert (for that I should have premis'd) so as at least the down-right rains may not fall upon it; cast into it first your Stable soil with the lit­tier, a foot or more thick, accord­ing to the depth of your Pit; up­on this lay a bed of fine Mould, on that another bed of Cider-Marc, rotten fruit, and Garden off all; on this a couch of Pigeons and Poultry-dung, with more littier; then a stratum of Sheeps-dung, a layer of Earth again, then Neats­dung; [Page 151] lastly, Ashes, Soot, Fern, (a moist and a dry) bottom of Wood-stack, Saw-dust, dry scowr­ings of Ponds and Ditches, with all other ingredients, as you hap­pen to amass them, till the Ci­stern be full and heaped up; upon all this cast plentiful water from time to time, which if you can have out of some Pond where Cattel use to drink and cool themselves in, it will be excel­lent: At the expiration of two years you may confidently open your magazine, and separate the Layers as they rise, to cast them into other small Pits or recepta­cles made a little concave to re­ceive them; where you may stir, air, mingle and work them in with fresh Mould, or one with the other, as you find cause, till they become comparatively sweet and agreeable to the scent: Last­ly, you may pass them through a screen made of lathes plac'd at [Page 152] moderate intervals, and with the liquor remaining in your great Cistern sprinkle the several Com­posts, and make them up for use, casting the course remaining stuff, which would not pass the riddle, into the Cistern again for farther mortification, and so keep your Pit fill'd with fresh materials from time to time after the same me­thod.

There are some who advise us to suffer your mixture to remain till it be quite dry, after it is thus refin'd, and then being beaten to dust, to strew it upon the ground. And indeed this seems in Pliny's time to have been the Custom; nor do I contradict it, provided you could water it, or were sure of a shower before the Sun had drank too deeply of the spirit and vigour of it, which, reduc'd in this manner, it does easily part withall.

Now the Reason of our thus [Page 153] treating Compost of various soils and substances, is not only to dul­cifie, sweeten, and free them from the noxious qualities they other­wise retain, and consequently im­part, apply'd, as usually we find them, crude, indigested and un­active; but for being immode­rately hot and burning, or else rank, and apter to ingender ver­mine, weeds and fungous excre­scences, than to produce whole­some Plants, Fruits and Roots fit for the Table, and grateful to the Palate; for which effect, it should be throughly concocted, air'd, of a scent agreeable, and reduc'd to the next disposition of a sweet and natural Earth, short and tra­ctable, yet not so macerated as to lose any of its virtue. The proper season therefore for this work, is the beginning of the Au­tumnal Aequinox, and wind west­erly, both to prepare and lay it on your Land; that, whether it be [Page 154] of wet or dry consistence, it may have a gentle soaking into the Earth. As for fresh Dungs, such as Sheep make when they are folded, it is good advice to cover it with Mould as soon as possible, before the Sun have over-dry'd it, for the Reasons before hint­ed; and by this early applica­tion you will find all that is stiff and yet any wayes contumacious, subdu'd, and perfectly prepar'd before you turn it in. If you would meliorate Ground for Fruit-trees, Roots and Esculents of the Orchards and Olitory Gar­den, be cautious, that the hotter Dungs approach not immediate­ly to their stems or roots, with­out such a circumposition of na­tural Mould as we have com­mended. But this is a note for such as think fit to use the soil steaming as it comes from the heap; but if it be prepar'd as we have shew'd, there is no danger [Page 155] even of immediate contact: And the same is to be observ'd in Ab­laqueation, where we find cause to bare the Roots of Trees, and expose them to the air, for fresh influence, or to abate exu­berances; and that the cavity be not fill'd all at once (when we conceive the Roots have been sufficiently air'd) but gradually from month to month, as from October till the beginning of March; and upon other occa­sions, leaving the surface rough, rather than too compt, and ex­quisitely trim'd, if only you dig your Ground; which once in two or three years, four or five, (as you perceive your Trees to re­quire Culture,) is advisable, and then to mingle the Earth with a thorow soiling, and refresh it with the impregnate water of your Cistern, will exceedingly recover a worn-out Plantation. This Irrigation may also be year­ly [Page 156] given to the Roots of your Fruit-trees about June and July; and the spreading of a little good Soil upon the surface, and rough chopping it in with the spade be­fore winter, is good husbandry, to wash in amongst the Roots, and to draw them upwards, the shallow running of which is of so great importance.

And thus having shew'd how to prepare, ripen, separate and apply the several Composts (which for distinction sake we call the dry mixture;) I am next to de­scribe the liquid in many parti­culars, not much differing from the former Process.

'Twixt East and North erect a Pergola or Shed, so contriv'd with a cover, as to exclude or admit the rain, snows and weather at pleasure; sink a Pit for the Ci­stern as you did the former under it; cast into it all the acid Plants, bitter and rank weeds that come [Page 157] in your way, and grow in the neg­lected corners of your grounds, such as Esula, Hemlock, Docks, Thistles, Fumary, Tabacco-stalks, Wormwood, Cabbage-leaves and stalks, Aconites, the leaves, trash, and offal, such as Cattel will not touch, to these add Pigeons and Poultry dung, with their Quils and Feathers; any sort of Ashes, Soot, Hogs-hair, Horn, hard bones, such as the dogs have gnawn; also Vrine, Blood, Garbage, Pickle, Brine, Sea-water, (if convenient­ly to be had,) otherwise Pond­water, to sprinkle it with, and keep it moist to accelerate pu­trefaction; but when all is well consum'd, forbear the pouring on of insipid liquors, and thus leave it till it be dry; then air, mingle and work your Compost as you were directed above, or boile it into Peter, casting what you find not well digested into the Cistern again for another year, and with [Page 158] a little addition, it will give you half the quantity of the former, and, provided that you supply the Magazine, a continu'd and far­ther increase. Indeed this Salt and Compost is not immediately fit for use, till it be well dulcified and purg'd from its over acrimo­ny, therefore mix it well with your Mould, and dilute it as you see cause. The Receipt is set down by old Glauber for the ef­fecting of wonderful Vegetation, by the assistance of certain Cir­culatory Vessels to prepare the Oylie succus, and pinguid Juice, which that Author teaches in his Miraculum Mundi, to extract not only out of these Materials, but out of Turf, Wood and Stone it self, by calcining and burning them in close and reverberating furnaces, to which a Tube, adapt­ed near the bottom, may convey the spirits into a Recipient, as he describes the Process. I men­tion [Page 159] this the rather, for the real effects which I have been told of this Menstrue from very good Testimony: And doubtless he who were skill'd to extract it in quantity (and to dulcifie, and qualifie it for use,) a true spiri­tuous Nitre may do abundantly more, in the way of the improve­ments we have celebrated, with a small quantity, than with whole loads, nay, hundreds of loads of the best and richest dry Composts which he can devise to make. But besides this, any houses of Or­dure, or rancid mould, strong salts, vinous liquors, Vrine, Ashes, Dust, shovelings of the kenuel and streets, &c. kept dry, and cover'd for three or four years, will be converted into Peter, without half this trouble; especially if you mingle it with the dung of Pi­geons, Poultry, and other salaci­ous Fowl which feed on Corn: Or those who would not be at [Page 160] the charge of distilling for these advantages, may make experi­ment of the so famous Muck-wa­ter, not long since cry'd up for the doing wonders in the field: Throw of the shortest and best Marle into your Cistern, exceed­ingly comminute and broken, which you may do with an iron Rake, or like Instrument, till the liquor become very thick; cast on this the dung of Fowl, Co­nies, Sheep, &c. frequently stir­ring it; to this add the soil of Horses and Cows, Grains, Lees of Wine, Ale, Beer, any sort of be­verage, broths, brine, fatty and greasy stuff of the Kitchin; then cast in a quantity of Lime, or melting Chalk, of which there is a sort very unctuous; also blood, urine, &c. mixed with the wa­ter, and with this sprinkle your Ground at seasonable times, and when you have almost exhausted the Cistern of the liquid, mingle [Page 161] the residue with the grosser Com­post of your Stable and Cow­house, and with layers of Earth, Sand, Lime, S. S. S. frequently moistned with uncrude water, the taking up of which you may much facilitate, by sinking a Tub or Vessel near the corner of the Cistern, and piercing it with large holes at the bottom and sides, by which means you may take it out so clean as to make use of it through a great Syringe or watring Engine, such as being us'd to extinguish fire, will exalt and let it fall by showers on the Ground, and is much the more natural way of irrigation, and dispatches the work.

This Liquor has the reputati­on also for insuccation of Corn, and other Grain, to which some add a fine sifting of Lime-dust on it, and when that is dry, to re­peat it with new infusions and siftings: But

[Page 162] There is yet a shorter Process, namely, the watring with Fish­mongers-wash, impregnated with the sweepings of Ships and Vessels trading for Salt, adding to it the blood of the Slaughter-house, with Lime, as above; but this is also much too fierce for any pre­sent use, till it be perfectly di­luted, which is a caution indis­pensably necessary, when ever you would apply such powerful affusions, lest it destroy and burn up, instead of curing and inrich­ing. Another take as follows:

Rain-water of the Equinox, q. s. boil'd with store of Neats dung, till it be very strong of it, dissolve one pound of Salt-Peter in every pottle of water; whilst this is a little tepid, macerate your seeds for twenty four hours, dry them gently, rather with a cloth than by the fire; sow in the bar­renest Earth, or water Fruit-trees with it, for prodigious effects. Or thus:

[Page 163] Take two quarts of the same water, Neats-dung, as before, boil'd to the consumption of half, strain it, casting into the percola­tion two handfuls of Bay-salt, and of Salt-Peter ana. Another:

Take Rain-water, which has stood till putrified, add to it Neats, Pigeon, or Sheeps-dung, expose it for Insolation a week or ten dayes, then pass it through a course strainer, infuse more of the same soil, and let it stand in the Sun a week longer, strain it a se­cond time, add to it Common­salt, and a little Oxes Gall, &c. Another:

Take quick Lime, Sheeps dung at discretion, put into Rain-wa­ter four fingers eminent; to ten pints of this Liquor, add one of Aqua-vitae, macerate your Seeds, or water with it any lean Earth, where you would plant, for won­derful effects.

Infuse three pound of the best [Page 164] Indian Niter in fifteen Gallons of water, irrigate your barren Mould; 'twas successfully try'd amongst Tulips and Bulbs, where the Earth should by no means (as we have said) be forc'd by Com­posts. But a gentler than either, is,

A dilution of Milk with Rain­water, sprinkl'd upon unsleckt Lime, first sifted on your beds, and so after every watering the Lime repeated.

These, with divers more which I might superadd, not taken and transcrib'd out of Common Re­ceipt-Books, and such as pretend to Secrets, but most of them ex­perimented, I thought fit to men­tion; that upon repetition of Tryals, the curious might satisfie themselves, and as they have op­portunity improve them, whilst perhaps, as to irrigations, less exalted liquors were more natu­ral. And what if Essays were [Page 165] made of Liquors per Lixivium, the Plant reduc'd to ashes; might it not be more connatural, since we find by more frequent tryal, that the burning of stubble before the Rains descend on it, impreg­nates ground by the dissolution of its spermatic salts? I only name the naked Phlegm of Plants distill'd either to use alone, or extract the former salt; but I say, I only mention them for the cu­rious to examine, and ex abun­danti. For certainly (to return a little, and speak freely my thoughts concerning them) most exalted Menstrues, and (as they dignifie them with a great name) Essentiated Spirits; I say, all hasty motions, and extraordinary fermentations, though indeed they may possibly give suddain rise, and seemingly exalt the pre­sent vigour of Plants, are as per­nicious to them as Brandy, and hot-waters are to Men; and there­fore [Page 166] wherever these ardent Spi­rits are apply'd, they should be pour'd at convenient distances from any part of the Plant, that the virtue may be convey'd through some better qualified me­dium. But when all is done, wa­ters, moderately impregnated and imbodied with honest Composts, and set in the Sun, are more safe, and I think more natural: For, as the Learn'd Dr. Sharrok truly affirms, Water is, of its own Con­stitution alone, a soil to Vege­tables, not only as the most ge­nuine Vehicle of the riches which it imparts to Plants, through the several strainers, and by means of which all change and melio­ration is effected; but for that it is of all other substances best dis­pos'd for ingression, to insinuate into, and fertilize the Earth, which is the reason that floated and irriguous grounds are so preg­nant. Besides, it is of all that [Page 167] pretend to it, nearest of blood (as I may say) to the whole Ve­getable Family: For to assert with any confidence, what part of the meer Earth passes into their composition; or whether it serve (as we touch'd before) only for stability, or as a womb and re­ceptacle to their Seeds and Eggs (for so we are taught to call the Seeds of Plants,) I shall not un­dertake to discuss. Every body has heard of Van-Helmonts Ash­tree; and may without much dif­ficulty repeat what has been ex­perimented by exquisitely weigh­ing the Mould before, and after a Gourd is planted in it, and till it be grown to bulk and full ma­turity, fed with water only; how much liquor is insum'd, and how little of the Earth consum'd, to make some conjecture; though I do not yet conceive the Earth to be altogether so dull and un­active, as to afford no other aid [Page 168] to the Generation of what she bears; the diversity of soils be­ing (as we have shew'd in this Discourse) so infinitely various, and the difference of invisible in­fusions so beyond our Arithmetic. But if we give Liquids praedo­minion, and at least the Masculine preference, be they Salts, or Spi­rits (that is, nitrous Spirits) con­vey'd into her bosome how they will; sure we are, that Water and Vegetables are much nearer of alliance, than either Water or Air are with the Earth and Mould. But neither do I here also by any means exclude the Air, nor deny its perpetual Com­merce, and benign influences, charg'd as it comes with those pregnant and subtil particles, which insinuating into the Earths more steady and less volatile Salts, and both together inva­ding the Sulphur, (and freeing them from whatsoever they find [Page 169] contumacious,) that intestine fer­mentation is begun and promo­ted, which derives life, and growth, and motion to all that she produces. That by the Air, the most effete and elixiviated Mould comes to be repair'd, and is qualified to attract the pro­lific nitrous spirits, (which not only disposes the Earth to this impregnating magnetism, but con­verts her more unactive and fix­ed salts into quite another ge­nius and nature,) the Learned Doctor Mayow has ingeniously Tract Medico-Phys. Medico-Phys. made out; and all this by a na­ked exposure to the Air alone, without which it produces no­thing: Nor can Plants (totally excluded from the Air) live, or so much as erect themselves to any thriving purpose, as being depriv'd of that breath and vital Balm, which no less contributes to their growth and nourishment, than does the Earth it self with [Page 170] all our assistances: For that Plants do more than obscurely respire, and exercise a kind of Peristaltic motion, I little doubt, from the wonderful and conspi­cuous attraction, and emission, which some of them discover; particularly, the Aloes, and other Sedums, and such as consisting of less cold and viscous parts, send-forth their aromatic wafts at considerable distance.

Besides, we find that Air is nearer of kin and affinity to Wa­ter, than water is to Plants, unless I should affirm, that Air it self were but a thinner wa­ter; for how else are those Vines, and other Trees of prodigious growth, maintained amongst the barren Rocks, and thirsty Pu­mices, where Rains but seldom fall? if not from this rorid Air. Not to insist again, that perhaps even these Rocks themselves may once have sprung from liquid [Page 171] Parents; and how little, even such as are expos'd to conti­nual showers in other Climates, abate of their magnitude, since we rather find them to increase; and that also the Fruits and Juices of Vegetables seem to be but the concretion of better concocted Water, and may not only be converted into lignous and woody substance (as the Learned Doctor Beale has some­where instanc'd in a Discourse presented to You, and Record­ed in the Public Transactions) but is apt enough to petrifie and become arrant stone.

Whatever then it be which the Earth contributes, or whe­ther it contain universally a Se­minal virtue, so specified by the Air, Influences, and Genius of the Clime, as to make that a Cinnamon Tree in Ceilon, which is but a Bay in England, is past my skill to determine; but 'tis [Page 172] to be observ'd with no little wonder, what Monsieur Bernier in his History of the Empire of the Mogol affirms to us of a Mountain there, which being on one side of it intolerably hot, produces Indian Plants, and on the other, as intempe­rately cold, European and Vul­gar. Not here to pass without no­tice at least, what even the most exhausted Mould will (to all ap­pearance) produce spontaneous­ly, when once it has been well expos'd to the Air, and heaven­ly influences; if what springs up be not possibly from some volatil rudiments and seeds, transported by winds, higher than we usually place our Ex­periments, unless we could fix them upon Olympus top: But Porta tells us with more confi­dence, that he took Earth from a most profound and dry place, and expos'd it on such an emi­nence, [Page 173] as to be out of reach e­ven of the winds; but it pro­duc'd, it seems, only such Plants as grew about Naples, and there­fore may be suspected.

To return then again from this digression, and pursue our Li­quids; where there is good Water, there is commonly good Earth, and vice versa; because it bridles and tempers the Salts, abates the acidity and fierceness of Spirits, and imparts that use­full ligature and connexion to the Mould, without which it were of no use for Vegetation. In the mean time, of all Waters, that which descends from Hea­ven, we find to be the richest, and properest in our work, as having been already meteoriz'd, and circulated in that great di­gestory, inrich'd and impreg­nated with astral influences from above at those propitious Seasons; whence that saying, [Page 174] Annus fructificat, non Tell us, has just Title to a Truth we every years Revolution behold and admire, when the sweet Dews of Spring and Autumn (hitherto constipated by cold, or consu­med with too much heat) begin to be loosened, or moderately condens'd, by the more benign temper of the Air, impregnating the prepared Earth to receive the Nitrous Spirits, descending with their baulmy pearls, yet with such difference of more or less benign, (as vapours haply, which the Earth sends up, may be sometimes qualified,) that nothing is more uncertain. And this we easily observe from the Labours of the Industrious Bee, and her precious Elixir, when for some whole moneths she gathers little, and at other times stives her waxen City with the harvest of a few propitious days. But I am gone too far, and [Page 175] therefore now shall set down only a few directions concerning watring, and so dismiss the Sub­ject and your patience.

1. It is not good to water new-sown Seeds immediately, as frequently we do, and which commonly bursts them; but to let them remain eight and forty hours in their beds, till they be a little glutted with the natural juice of the Earth.

2. Never give much water at one time; for the surface of the Earth will often seem very dry, when 'tis wet enough beneath; and then the Fibers rot about Autumn, especially in Pots and Cases, winter'd in the Green­house: To be the more secure, we have already caution'd Gard­ners to keep their bottoms hol­low, that nothing stagnate and fix too long; which should be but transitory. If such Curiosi­ties strike no root by September, [Page 176] the leaves desert them certainly at Spring: The reason is want of Air, not moisture. Therefore in all intervals of severer frosts, and rigorous winter-weather, be spa­ring of refreshings, and unless you perceive their leaves to crumple up, and fall, (which is their language for Drink,) give them as sparingly as you can. Indeed, during the Sum­mer, and when they are expos'd, they require almost perpetual ir­rigation, and that the liquor be well impregnat'd with proper Compost: But in hard Frosts, or foggy Seasons, watering your housed Plants indangers them by mustiness, and a certain Mill­dew which they contract. On the other hand,

Applications too dry create an intemperate thirstiness, and then they drink unmeasurably, and fall into Dropsies, Jaundies, Feavors, swell, languish and rot; [Page 177] and if the liquor prove too crude (as commonly it does, if taken from running and hungry foun­tains,) it extinguishes the natural heat, and obstructs the Pores; and therefore when ever you are constrain'd to make use of such drink, expose it first to the warm Sun for better concoction, infusing Sheep, Pigeons, or Neats­dung, to give it body: But though Spring-water be so bad, slow running River is often very good, and Pond-water excellent, so it be sweet; but all stinking pools, mineral and bituminous waters, are not for our use; and often good Air is as needful as good water; Worms, Mouldi­ness, Cankers, Consumptions and other Diseases, being the usual and fatal consequence of these vices.

If you be to plant in fresh and new broken-up Earth, and that the season or mould be too [Page 178] dry, 'tis to be water'd; but then give it a competent sprinkling, or sifting of dry and fine mould upon what you have refresh'd, and then beating it a little close with the back of your spade, plant it successfully; for this you will find to be much bet­ter, than to water it after you have planted (as the custom is) and as you may observe in set­ting Violets, Auricula's, Prim­roses, and other Capillaries, planted in beds or bordures, and then dash'd with a flood of wa­ter, which, so soon as the Sun has look'd upon, resign and lose their tinctures, scorch and shrivel up. Lastly,

For the Season likewise of this work, let it be towards the Evening in hot and summer dayes, for the reason immedi­ately assign'd; for the moisture being in a short time drunk-up, deserts the Plant to the burning [Page 179] Planet; and hence it is, that Summer mists are so noxious, and Meridian watrings; and there­fore the best expedient is, upon such exigencies, to pour your refreshings rather all over the Area on which your Cases of choice and rare shrubs are plac'd, and among the Allees and Paths between your Beds of Flowers, for the raising arti­ficial Dews, (by which is unfold­ed no common secret;) or water them per lingulam, and guttatim, than either with the Pot or Buc­ket: And after this manner, if at other seasons they stand in need of heat and comfort of warmth, by strewing Sand or Cinders on the same intervals, the reflection will recreate them, upon all emissions of the Sun­beams.

As for grosser Plantations, and Trees of old Orchard - Fruits, moderation is also to be observ­ed, [Page 180] and not to dash - on such a quantity near the stem and body; but first with the spade to loosen the Earth about them, especi­ally towards the extremities of the tenderest Roots, which generally sprout at the ends of the most woody, whose mouths are shut with tough­er bark. These therefore may be cut sloping to quicken them a little, and make them strike fresh fibers; especially if some rich and tempting mould be sensonably apply'd: For Trees will (as we shew'd) with very little Earth to cover them, take fast root, (provided you stablish them against impetuous winds, shocks and accidents of force,) and thrive exceedingly with this refreshment.

Some make pretty large holes with an Iron-Crow, or (which is better) a pointed stake, and pour the liquor in at those over­tures; [Page 181] but besides, that by this means they wound the roots, (which gangrenes, and sometimes kills the Tree,) if the holes be not fill'd, the Air and Moisture mouldies them: So as, when all is summ'd together, there's no­thing comparable to frequent stirring up the Ground, opening the dry clod, and watring upon that; and if you lay any fearn­brakes or other trash about them to entertain the moisture, and skreen it from the heat, let it not be wadded so close, or suf­fer'd to lie so long, as to con­tract any mustiness, but rather loose and easie, that the Air may have free intercourse, and to break the more intense ardours of the scorching Sun-beams.

Thus I have exercis'd Your Lordships and these Gentlemens Patience with a dull Discourse of Earth, Mould and Soil; but, [Page 182] I trust, not altogether without some Fruit; or, at least, not im­properly pro hîc & nunc, as the Subject has Relation to what has so lately been produc'd, and with happy event made out, by those Learned Persons, who have entertain'd this Noble Society with the Anatomy of Plants.