OF EARTH.

47

elm, and olive, (which is at antipathy with the oak, and imparts alsosuch a bitternefs to the mould, as kills lettuce and other subnascentplants) and why some affect to live in crowds, others in solitude, is hardto say; but that firs, pines, cedars, elms, and divers other trees, aspireand grow so tall in society, may be (as from other causes) so from theirnot overglutting themselves with nourishment (for compost is not theirdelight) which inclines them rather to shoot upwards than expand andspread.

Lastly, Ground is rendered barren by shade, and the dripping of um-brageous trees. To these air and sun may be soon restored, by remov-ing the skreens which intercept them; and yet all shade is not unpro-pitious where the soil and climate are benign, as well as that which caststhe umbrage; and of this we have a notable instance in some parts ofAfrica , where the soil and air are so genial, that the olive is said to growunder the date-tree, the fig under the olive, under the fig-tree the gra-

nade, under that the vine, and under the vine a crop of corn, and at thefeet of the corn a certain pulse none of them impeded by the more thanreduplicated shades. But there are some, we must confefs, amongst us,which are not so propitious; trees of all sorts (though the perennial greensleast) breathe as much after the air as the soil, and do not thrive withoutit, nor except it be wholesome.

But to return to barren Earths, which are either out of heart by beingspent, or from the nature of the soil, (in both which cases the plants pro-duced, though never so unprosperous, run hastily to seed, or make an of-fer) they are to be restored by the plough, the spade, and the rake; bystirring and repose, appositions and mixtures of Earth , calcinations, andcomposts; and above all, by the eye of the master, and dust of his feet, asthe Italian proverb has it. For after this procefs, and innumerable othertrials, (mixtures of things being endlefs) all other sorts of Earths andimperfeft Moulds may be treated and meliorated; namely, if it be toohard and close, mollify and relax it; if too loose, give it ligature andbinding ; if too light, ballast; if too meagre, fasten and impinguate it;if too rich and luxuriant, emaciate and bring it down; if too moist, ap-ply exsiccatives ; if too cold, fermenting composts ; if excefsive hot, cooland refresh it; and thus Earths should be married together like male andfemale, as if they had sexes; for being of so many several complexions,