346 NATURAL HISTORY. 



prepared. It is thought by some, that the ends of 

 low rainbows fall more upon one kind of earth than 

 upon another, as it may well be ; for that that earth 

 is most roscid : and therefore it is commended for a 

 sign of good earth. The poorness of the herbs, it is 

 plain, shew the poorness of the earth ; and espe 

 cially if they be in colour more dark : but if the 

 herbs shew withered, or blasted at the top, it sheweth 

 the earth to be very cold ; and so doth the mossiness 

 of trees. The earth, whereof the grass is soon 

 parched with the sun, and toasted, is commonly 

 forced earth, and barren in its own nature. The 

 tender, chessome, and mellow earth, is the best, 

 being mere mould, between the two extremes of clay 

 and sand, especially if it be not loamy and binding. 

 The earth, that after rain will scarce be ploughed, 

 is commonly fruitful : for it is cleaving, and full of 

 juice. 



666. It is strange, which is observed by some of 

 the ancients, that dust helpeth the fruitfulness of 

 trees, and of vines by name ; insomuch as they cast 

 dust upon them of purpose. It should seem, that 

 that powdering, when a shower cometh, maketh a 

 kind of soiling to the tree, being earth and water 

 finely laid on. And they note, that countries where 

 the fields and ways are dusty bear the best vines. 



667. It is commended by the ancients for an ex 

 cellent help to trees, to lay the stalks and leaves of 

 lupins about the roots, or to plough them into the 

 ground where you will sow corn. The burning 

 also of the cuttings of vines, and casting them upon 



