CHINA. 1751. 355 



field for the feed, but chufe the feed for the 

 field. Rice (Oryza fat ha) grows under 

 water : Nymph a a and Sagittaria grow in 

 water : Sugarcane (Saccharum officinale) and 

 Potatoes {Convolvulus Batatas) want a lefs 

 moifl foil. If it is frill more dry, it will do for 

 Tarns (Diofcorea alatd). Indigo (Jndigofcra 

 tinclorid) and Cotton (GoJJypium herbaceum) 

 grow on the higheft mountains. If a moun- 

 tain fhould happen to be too dry, it ferves for 

 a burying-place. But if a foil be ever fo wet, 

 the Chinefe .have a plant that grows in it, and 

 ferves for food to men. If we could not imi- 

 tate the Chinefe in our tillage ; yet we might 

 manage the paftures in the fame manner. Let 

 us fuppofe a piece of ground whofe fituation 

 will not afford fo much fail to the water as to 

 let it run off: now no meadow is fo wet but 

 Poa aquatica grows on it; which we fetched 

 out of other countries, till we difcovered this 

 excellent grafs in Weflgothland, in ponds, rivers, 

 and the like places. No hill is fo dry but 

 Fefluca ovina grows well on it. For want of 

 money, and the workmen neceffary to work in 

 the ponds, a poor farm may be greatly im- 

 proved by a fimple imitation of nature ; name- 

 ly, if the hufbandman brings fuch plants 

 upon his meadows as will fit each foil, this 

 * would 



