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A Philosophical Discourse

hair, Horn-Jhavings, Bones , Skins , Leather , 6Cc. are deeply wbe buried, and so as not to touch, but lie about the Roots: Thele, withBags, coarse Wool and Bitch-Marks, improve the Earth, as being fodof volatile Salts, drawing and retaining the Dews. And Fijh is lik e 'wise spread to great advantage of Grounds, where stisto be had in pfo sl 'ty ; and for being quickly consumed, may loonest be apply'd. We com eto Vegetables.

The Marc and Pressings of the Grape are good Compos, and so jSthe Lees of Wine mingled with the Mould: It is of singular comfortto the Roots of Orange-Trees , and Cafe-Plants ; and if you sift a litt'*jBrick-dujl with it, and bury it near the Roots of Rosemary , it vdthrive wonderfully. It may be a laudable Campoit for moist Groundswhere that Plant Ib unwillingly grows.

The Leaves of Trees are profitable for their own Fruit, and naturalbeing well rotted, and not musty: The Peach-leaf, hurtful to Cattsois excellent for the Tree from which it falls ; and the Walnut-U&hnoxious to the Grafs, is helpful to the Tree.

Duck-weed, the slime and spongy Ouze of stagnant Waters, mrt'with proper Mould, make a kind bed for Aquatics.

Saw-dujl, Rotton-wood, found in the hollow of decay’d Trees,dcr the Stacks , and where Trees grow thick together, as in great and 0 !Woods, but especially that which is taken out of an inveterate WM 0 ®'Tree , is preferable to any other for the raising of Seedlings of choi^Plants, mix’d as it should be with a little Loam, Lime-rubbiJhMould , as we have taught. This and the rest should be well vcnted, and is of great effect to loosen and mellow Ground, as tenaciousMoisture. ^

Wood-ajhes, rich and impregnate with Salts , are fit for wet Grouuwithout mixture, and in Pasture excellent, not fisted on over th jCIn the Wejl-Indies near Guatimala, Gage tells us their Manure isburning of Trees to AJhes, of which they do not spread above 0Bujhel upon an Acre\ It likewile kills the Worm; but in Earthis subject to over-heat and chap much, AJhes and burning Composbut increase the Fever, and therefore contrary Remedies are to be fo°{? ’luch as Keats and Swines Dung ; but not lo when Lands are natuf* ^or accidentally cold. Wherefore we should endeavour by alldefect, as far as we are able, the Quality predominant both of the Lwe would improve, and the Compojls we apply, and not throwpromiscuously upon every thing without considering of what temp eI ^constitution they be; for Grounds are as nice as our Bodies, and as ^noxious to Infirmities upon every defect and excess; and therefore 1 j squires Skill, and no little Study, to be able rightly to marfof . ^Materia Medica ( as I may call it) of Compojls, the virtue ofdoeslometimes lie very hidden; at least, if that be true which S* 1Platt affirms, that what we all this while seek after, is indeedinvisible to human Eyes, and to be dilcern’d only by the Eyes 1,1dual, because ’tis vaisd and clad under so many different Bodies, s.of some are more ponderous, Inch as Marl, Chalk , the Dung ot ** Ltf,5cc. some more light, as their Flcjb, Bones, Hair, fiCc. and fon 11 g i0lighter, as Grain, and generous Seeds ; for in such as have »n ^multiply their own Species, that Spirit is invested with a very tcurious Integument, as in effect we have instane’d in the Bloods ^ c jrof Animals , so much more powerful for the enriching of Land

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