A Philosophical Discourse

There are, I confess, who fancy that this long exposure of Earthhe*fore it be employed for a Crop, causes it to exhale, and spend the v ir "tue which it should retain ; but, provided nothing be suffered to grovVon it whilst it lies thus rough and sallow , there’s no danger of that;there being in truth, no Compost, or Latation whatsoever, comparableto this continual Motion, Repastination , and turning of the Mouldwith the Spade; the pared-off Turf (which is the very fat, and Effi 0 "rescence of the Earth ) and even fVeeds with their vegetable Salts, 1°collected into heaps, and exposed, being reduced, and falling into natural,sweet, and excellent Mould. I lay, this is a marvellous advantage, anddoes in greater measure fertilize the Ground alone, without any otheradditament; For the Earth , which was formerly dull and unactive,perhaps producing but one kind of Plant, will by this culture dispose itself to bring forth variety, as it lies in depths, be it never so profoundscold and crude, the nature of the Plant always following the Genius otthe Soil; but indeed requiring time, according to the depth from whenceyou fetch it, to purge and prepare it self, and render it fit for concepti° n jevaporating the malignant Halitus’s and Impurities of the imprisonedAir, laxing the Parts, and giving caly deliverance to its Offspring.

I do not dispute, whether all Plants have their primigenial See» s >( as in truth I believe they have) and that nothing emerges HponW*neoufly, and at adventure ; but, that these would rise freely, in aplaces, if Impediments were removed, (of which something has ah ca 'dy been spoken;) and to strew, how pregnant most Earths wouldcome, were these Indispositions cured, and that thole seminal Jments, wherever latent, were free to move, and exert their virtue, b;taking off these Chains and Weights which fetter and depress them*

It is verily almost a Miracle to fee, how the fame Land, without an Jother Manure or Culture, will bring forth, and even luxuriate; al1that the bare raking and combing on\y of a Bed of Earth y now one vwthen another, as to the Regions of Heaven, and Polar Aspects, luafdiversify the annual Production, which is a Secret worthy to be con 1dered 1 am only to caution our Labourer as to the present work, tn ahe do not stir the Ground in over-wet, and flabby Weather; that tStdctis or Trench, be made to run from North to South y and that, 1there be occasion for opening of a fresh piece of Earth , for presenthe dig not above one Spit- deep, which will be sufficient to covet t ^Roots of any plantable Fruit, or other Tree; otherwise, not to diu uit again, till the March following; when, if he please, and that t ^Ground seem to require an hastier maturation, there may be a CropBeans , Pease, or Turneps sown upon it, which will mellow itdingly, and destroy the noxious Weeds; after which, with a flight rpajlination, one may plant, or sow any thing in it freely; efy cCi ? \Roots , which will thrive bravely ; andsowill7m\r, provided y° u £ athem not too deep, but endeavour to make them spread, and tak^^the succulent virtue of the upper Mould ; and therefore too deep tt ^ching is not always profitable, unless it be for Esculent Roots , fucCarrots, Parjheps, Beets , and the like ; since Trees , especially ^ ^would be tempted even by Baits, to run shallow ; such as penes*deep, commonly spending more in Wood and Leaves, than ihburden for which we plant them.

There is only this Caution due, that you never plant your A ^

where the stiff and churlish Ground is likely to be within reach

4 them i