J50 ON THE FOLIATION 



§. 5. 



Nature always takes the eafieft, and fhorteft 

 way in all her works. He therefore who would 

 imitate her mufl do the fame. No one, i think, 

 can deny but that the fame force, which brings 

 forth the leaves of trees, will alfo make the 

 grain vegetate •, and no one can juftly aflert 

 that a premature fowing will always, and every 

 where accelerate a ripe harveft. Perhaps 

 therefore we cannot promife ourlelves a happy 

 fuccefs by any means fo likely, as by taking 

 our rule for fowing from the leafing of trees. 

 We muft for this end obferve in what order 

 every tree according to its fpecies, heat of the 

 atmofphere, and quality of the foil, puts forth 

 its leaves. Afterwards comparing together 

 the obfervations of many years, it will not be 

 difficult from the leafing of trees to define the 

 lime, if not certainly, yet probably, when 

 not only barley^ but vernal rye^ oats^ and other 

 annual plants ought to be fown. 



§. 6. 



To attain this end there were many, who 

 by the exhortation of our prefident noted, not 



