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the finer, and what if reduced to powder, sprinkled for the garden, orotherwise working it in at a sna kin g wet (not stormy) season) but leave itcovered with it for some time, if the rain descend in too great excefs.
The next is sheep-dung, which is of a middle temper between that andpigeon’s; profitable in cold grounds, and to impregnate liquors, of choiceuse in the garden.
The dung of swine is efteemed the coldest and least acrimonious, (thoughsome there be who contradict it) and therefore to be applied to burninglands; but always so early interred as never to appear above ground,where it is apt to produce weeds in abundance, from the greedy devouringof what that animal eats.
This, though not so proper for the garden, (and the most stinking) issaid yet to edulcorate and sweeten fruit so sensibly, as to convert the bit-terest almond into sweet, and therefore recommended, above all others,
for experiments of change and alteration^ Some qualify it with bran, Or
chaff well consumed, greatly comfortable to fruit-trees, but especiallytbe hairs and bristles buried about the roots of pear-trees.
Pigeon-dung, and that of poultry, (especially of aquatic fowls, whichis too fiery) being full of volatile salts, is hot and burning, and thereforemost applicable to the coldest ground. There is nothing more effectualto revive the weak and languishing roots of fruit-trees than this laid earlyto them; but first be sure they pafs their mordicant and piercing spirits,and be discreetly mixed: Be this therefore observed as a constant rule,That the hotter composts be early and thinly spread, e contra, the colder.
Very efficacious is this dung to keep frosts out of the earth, and there-fore of great use to cover the mould in cases of exotic and tender plants;but if the heat be not well qualified, the very steam will kill them m amoment; therefore let a full winter pafs over this lactation for most uses.The best way of preparing it, is to reduce it into powder, and mingle itwith the mould, and to water with its infusion, which alone does won-ders • or, if it has been well exposed and abated, you may use it at the•sarin 0- without addition; but if you desire something that is exquisite,F ° 5 N 2