66

A DISCOURSE

haulm, and other litter trampled on in dirty streets, after it is a whilerotted and mingled. Mr. Ray tells us, that in some places about theAlps, he found them sowing dust upon the snow, as he supposes, formanure, and to fertilize the difsolution.

Thus with no little industry are found out the several kinds of com-posts, and materials for improvement, and what is the most genuine andtrue medicament of every soil for arable, pasture, or garden. I do not sayall, as if I thought there were no more ; for what if indeed there shouldbe as many sorts of composts as there are of ferments or salts; and asmany sorts of salts as there be of vegetables, or any other putrifiablematter. The more there be, the greater ought to be our industry andskill to be able to distinguish them, and to know how and when rightlyto apply them.

Nor is it sufficient to consider the nature of the earth, mould, and se-veral composts, but of the very plants themselves, for the application ofwhat you administer, be it for food or medicine; as if they be cold of con-stitution, to make use of the hotter composts; if hot, to prescribe thecold. For instance in a few of the most useful only.

Fruit-trees do generally thrive with the soil of oxen and swine; mostflowers, but especially roots, with that of sheep. Peter Hondius tells us,,(in his book intitled Dapes inempta,) that by the sole application of sheep-dung he produced a raddish root in his garden as big as half a man’smiddle, which being hung up for some time in a.butcher’s shop, peopletook it for an hog.

Apples affect a pretty rich soil with a dash of loam, but they will beareven in clay well soiled, and mixed with chalk, especially the more hardywinter fruit; and in chalk alone for some years; but they produce,though sweet, not so large fruit: But both apples and pears have a betterrelish in grounds that are not over moist, and where they may standwarm : and the last will prosper well-enough where the soil is mixedwith grave], and has an harder bottom.

Cherries, summer and stone-fruit, such as have their roots like thrums,.desire a fine light mould, sand or gravel, with chalk and good compost,