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Earth is also sometimes improved by mixtures of fern, rotten leaves,and the poriture of old wood, the haulm of beans, pease, and other le-gumina, which heat and accelerate concoction ; for which, and all othermedications, the nature of the mould is carefully to be examined, thatapplication be made accordingly; as for instance, if it be sandy, or otherlight mixed earth, to imbody it with something of a fatter nature, aslime or marl, (for I yet forbear the touch of ordure or animal composts,as the least natural) and be sure so to stir and lay it (especially if lime)that it may not sink too deep and suddenly, as it is apt to do, and so de-sert the surface-mould, where it should do the feat, and therefore it is tobe the oftener renewed. But marl enters as properly here, and so doesmud, slub of slimy waters, especially if the soil be gravelly and mixed,which it will sadden and impinguate, and consequently bind; but if thegravel be w T et and cold, lime is preferable: Wherefore the nature ofthe mould should be well examined before the application: as herearenous and sandy earth wants ligature, and besides, consisting of sharpand asperous angles, wounds and galls, curls and dwarfs our plants, with-out extraordinary help to render the pafsages more slippery and easy •therefore relenting chalks, or chalk-marl, is also profitable, wfith calcina-tions of turf, or sea-wreck, where it is at hand; and if the soil be exceed-ingly bibulous, spread a layer or couch of loam, discreetly mingled at thebottom, to entertain the moisture. In the mean time, there are yet someplants which thrive almost in nothing so well as in sand alone, or withvery little mixture, nor that of any dung: So melons are said to grow inJamaica , and some vast timber-trees have little or no mould adhering totheir roots; such is that beautiful stranger the Japan Lily, called bythose of Guernsey (from whence we only have them) La Belie de null; anda certain palm of the same Japan , which shrinks and dries at the leasttouch of water, as if it were laid before the fire, which is, it seems, theonly remedy that restores it, or the sudden replanting it in scales ofiron, or the most burning sand. But what if sand itself, however vul-garly reputed, be not so hot or interiorly ardent as it- is given out to be ?Indeed, for being of an open and loose contexture, it is apt to put forth aforward spring, as more easily admitting the solar rays; but it does notcontinue, and is an infirmity which may be remedied with loam, whichnot only unites it closer for the present, but is capable in time to alterVolume II. 3