CENTURY VI. 275 



Experiments in consort touching all manner of com 

 posts, and helps of ground. 



505. The first and most ordinary help is stereo- 

 ration. The sheep s dung is one of the best ; and 

 next the dung of kine : ajid thirdly, that of horses, 

 which is held to be somewhat too hot unless it be 

 mingled. That of pigeons for a garden, as a small 

 quantity of ground, excelleth. The ordering of 

 dung is, if the ground be arable, to spread it imme 

 diately before the ploughing and sowing ; and so to 

 plough it in : for if you spread it long before, the 

 sun will draw out much of the fatness of the dung : 

 if the ground be grazing ground, to spread it some 

 what late towards winter ; that the sun may have 

 the less power to dry it up. As for special composts 

 for gardens, as a hot bed, &c. we have handled them 

 before. 



596. The second kind of compost is, the spread 

 ing of divers kinds of earths ; as marie, chalk, sea 

 sand, earth upon earth, pond earth ; and the mix 

 tures of them. Marie is thought to be the best, as 

 having most fatness ; and not heating the ground 

 too much. The next is sea sand, which no doubt 

 obtaineth a special virtue by the salt : for salt is the 

 first rudiment of life. Chalk over-heateth the 

 ground a little ; and therefore is best upon cold clay 

 grounds, or moist grounds : but I heard a great 

 husband say that it was a common error, to think 

 that chalk helpeth arable ground, but helpeth not 

 grazing grounds ; whereas indeed it helpeth grass 



