A Thilosophtcal Discourse

the Air are reported to be so genial, that the Olive is si id to grow usi'der the Fate-tree, the Fig under the Olive, under the Fig-tree theGranade, under that the Vine, under the Vme a Crop of Corn , andat the feet of the Corn a certain ‘Pulse ; none of them impeded bythe more than reduplicated Shades. But there are some, we must con-fess, amongst us, which arc not lo propitious; Trees of all forts (th®the perennial Greens least) breathe as much after the Air as the Son?and do not thrive without it, nor except it be whollome.

But to return to barren Earths, which are cither out of heart by b c 'ing ipent, or from the Nature of the Soil (in both which, the Plantswhich they produce, though never so unprolperous, run hastily to JeV<or make an Offer) they are to be restored by the Plough, the Sp^ c

and the Pake, by Stirring and Repose, Appositions and Mixtures

of

Earth, Calcinations and Composts ; and above all, by the Eye of th ePlaster, and ‘Fust of his Feet , as the Italian Proverb has it. for a'ter this Process, and innumerable other Trials, (mixtures of things s'ing endless) all other forts of Earths and imperfect Moulds maytreated and meliorated ; namely, if it be too hard and close, to mostfy and relax it; if too loose, to give it ligature and binding; H t0 tlight , Ballast; if too meagre, to fasten and impinguate it; if too r{ ^and luxurious, emaciate and bring it down; if too moist, apply ,siccatives ; if too cold, fermenting Composts ; if excessive hot, to tot*and refresh it: for thus (as we laid) Earths should be married togetnlike PI ale and Female, as if they had Sexes ; for being of so rnan ^several Complexions, they should be well considers! and match d 8 ^cordingly, things (as was laid) becoming fruitful from the Mixturerepugnant Qualities ; ib as Cold and Frinefs without a warm ^cherishing Moisture produces nothing: for this therefore you feeChoice I have presented you of Sand, Ashes, Chalk, Lime,Mixture of Mould, Calcinations, Air, Sun, Few, Rain\ Frost s an ^Snows, Trenching, Frilling, Watering, Infusions', anft*finally -Animal St er cor at ions, and other Composts, which is the next and pPart of this (I fear) over-tedious Discourse; since indeed it is not ^ ^cicnt to find out-even the best, and most grateful Mould in Naturb ^as to rely for ever upon the lame Performance without Supplies 0 . nforts; stirring and repose, constant dressing, and (after all we have J * 111artificial Lat at ions likewise, to encourage and maintain it in ^ v e

We proceed then in the next place, to what farther Advancemc’ nt ,may expect from Sterceration, and manuring the Ground byand to discover the Qualities which may be latent in their several ,rnents, and how to apply them by a skilful and philosophical s- iC ,without which they do always more hurt than good; and th eje j tfirst, we will enumerate their several kinds, and next enquire, "is we chiefly seek for, and expect from them ; and lastly, how t0them so as to render them fitting for our Service.

From Animals we have the Soil of Horses, and Beasts of *Neats, Sheep, Goats, Hogs, Pigeons, ‘Poultry, and Fenny-fi ^ ' 0 fhave also Flesh, Fat, Blood, flair, Feathers, Trine, Sha'i'Vg^Horn, Hoofs, Leather, Skins, Fish, Garbage, Snail-mud, & c ; rst.Vegetables (as of nearest affinity) we have Vine-cuttings, Stalkslen Leaves, Marc of the Wine and Cidcr-prcffes, Lees of V

Rotten-fruit, Gourds, Weeds, Fern, Haulm, Stubble, Rotten W ^Sawdust-, Refuse of the Tan-pit, Sea-woad, Linnen Clouts }

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