A Philosophical Discourse

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 theHot-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 Repugnances, without whichFermentation could be obtain’d. Now since many of these being freihtymade, are not only sensibly hot, but mordacious and burning, they atewith caution to be us’d. That every kind of Earth ( as well as the2 Jung of Beasts , Stc.) has its peculiar Ferment, and operates accord'ingly, either by attracting something to it, or embasing what approaches

it, sufficient has been said; together with Directions how to mingstand attemper it, as best may qualify it for Culture. That we masdo the like with the several sorts of Soil, let us consider what their Na'lures 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, his then fit only for the Hot-bed, and when that Fervour Spast, may be spread on Fields, where we would have a rank Grais tospring; but is at no hand to be admitted into the GH«, or whereyodesire good Roots should grow, unless the Ground be very stiff, cold pwet, and then too it had need be well rotted, lest, instead of curingit leave couch, and pernicious Weeds, worse than the Disease; the ^of Hay, and other Flants, of which the Horjes cat, coming oftentinrpentire from them: And such V°get ables do commonly spring up u°the Soil of Cattle , of which they chiefly eat; as long Knot-grass u°this Beast; short, clean and sweet Pasture from Sheep and Cows ; \ ^Sonchus, or Sow-thistle from the Swine : So as Ground muck’d vhHorse-dung is always the most infected of any, and if it be not perf e£ “conlum’d, it makes your Roots grow forked, sills them with ff oi ^and imparts to them an unplcasing relish ; but being laid on at theginning os IF int er, and turn’d in at Spring, it succeeds sometimes ^ vlFulse.

The Soil of Asses is highly esteem’d, for its being better digested ^the long mastication and chewing of that dull Animal; but s> ncC 'have no quantity of it in this Country, it docs the less concern us. ^

Neats Dung of all other is universally the most harmless, auu ^most useful; excellent to mingle with sandy and hot Grounds, Jdry, and being apply’d before Winter, renders it the most like ^Earth , and is therefore for the Garden and Orchard prclerr’d i0 .Mother. To use it therefore with the most certain success in such .Grounds, apply a plentiful Surface of it, ib blended, as the st a,n ^ n eShowers may wash in the Virtue of it throughly; but this is best 1by making the Dung the finer, and what ifredue’d to Fowder, fp rl st ^tfor the Garden, or otherwise working it in at a soakingstormy) Season, and then leaving it also cover’d with it for ibru eif the Rain descend in too great excess.

The next isSheeps Dung, which is of a middle temper betweenand Figeons ; profitable in cold Grounds, and to impregnate LHof choice use in the Garden . . - 0 t

The Dung of Swine is esteem’d the coldest and least acri ^ 0 .

(though some there be who contradict it) and therefore to beto burning Lands; but always so early int err d, as never to app c ^* uJl£ i,