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A Philosophical Discourse

Apples affect a pretty rich Soil, with a dash of Loam, but they willbear even in Clay well loil’d, and mix’d with Chalk , especially the morehardy Winter Fruit; and in Chalk alone for lome Years; but they p r0-duce, though sweet, not lo large Fruit: But both Apples and Fearshave a better relish in Grounds that are not over-moist, and where theymay stand warm, and the last will prosper well enough where the Soil ismixt with Gravel , and has an harder bottom.

Cherries , Summer and Stone-Fruit, such as have their RootsThrums, desire a fine light Mould, Sand or Gravel , with Chalk angood Compost , unless it be very courle and stony, in which cafe it woube well IbiI'd, and the Pit you plant in, fill’d with rich Mould, as lasas the Roots likely use to extend before they reach the Gravel , so aS <L ° imake good spread; and this is to be renew'd every third or fourth Year?and for this reason it is profitable sometimes to bait steril Grounds, D /laying your Composts at reasonable intervals, thereby to tempt and allu^'the Roots towards it, and keep them from wandring, which they w*be subject to do in search of fresh nourilhment: For to bear constant 7well, and much, Fruit-trees must have frequent Lœtations. Nor a ^we to judge, that what is excellent Ground for one sort, is so for an®ther; since that which is perfectly good for Corn, is not lo for all .trees ; and a slender Straw will be fed and brought up with a great cl^less substance and virtue, than what will serve to furnish the Stem, ^aud Head of a fertile and spreading Tree. .æ,.

Vines , (than which there is no Plant more sensibly retains the cUrent qualities of Earths or whole Juice is of more variety) rejoiceslight, but vigorous Mould, rather sandijh , and inclining to dry, * y.either fat, luxurious of moist. Lime temper’d with Blood , exceeding-recreates it, after the first accidental Heats are pals’d over. „ f <,

The Fig-tree, (though affected to dry Grounds) isnoloverof ^coration , yet in some Countries they apply Oyl-Olive and Dove*' .to cause them to bear early Fruit; but omitting the Oil , if the Pbe mingl'd with Lime and AJhes , it is not to bereprov'd:- This ^thrives, and ripens even in the Shade, and Northern Exposures, ^ ^in the Meridional Parts of England ; but much better in the ^and best of all in Cafes , and under Shelter in Winter ; an ^jp u liyworth the Pains, for the most delicious Fruit in Nature, were it sk>cultivated. jy'd

Artichokes thrive exceedingly with Sheeps-dung , whichto the Roots, make them produce very great Heads : In the ^ a tof Jersey they ule Sea-wreck, to a wonderful improvement 0

PlaDs - . . -dentiy

Melons , Asparagus , and most hasty Growers, participate ev ^dy

of the Soil; and therefore we have already shew’d, how new anDung contaminates; and this is amongst other the reason why , af ,dmore Southern Countries ( where they are planted in the l °

' unfore’d Mould ) they are lo racy and superior in Taste andours. I should therefore recommend the use of Sheeps-dung, vie sotor rather the Ashes of burnt Straw , and the hotter Dungs ca ^some tryals to reform it; or, as they do in Italy , mingle Dust an p a jd*manur'd with Sheeps-foil and Wood-ajhes ; if alter all we n a ilP dthe cause of our application of Composts and Dungs to the er

choice Productions, be not to prevent the Rains only;

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