51 The Natural Hi/lory 



that there was here all maner of wood, as in France, except the for 

 and Beech : of the laft whereof there is fuch plenty in the Chil- 

 tern, that they have now thereabout fcarce any thing elfe; but 

 it lies fo far from Oxford, and fo near the River fide, which eafily 

 conveys it to London Mercat, that 'tis fcarce beneficial to the reft 

 of the County. 



3. As to the qualifications of the Soil in refpeel: of Corn, I 

 find them in goodnefs to.difter much, and not only according to 

 their feveral compofitions (being in fome places black, oxreddijb 

 earth : in others a clay or chalky ground, fome mixt of earth and 

 [and, clay and [and, gravel and clay, isre.') but chiefly according to 

 the depth of the mould ox uppermoft coat of the earth, and the 

 nature of the ground next immediatly under it : for let the up- 

 permoft mould be never fo rich, if it have not fome depth, or fuch 

 a ground juft underneath it, as will permit all fuperfluows moifture 

 to defcend, and admit alfo the hot and com] or table fleams to afcend i it 

 will not be fo fertile as a much leaner foil that enjoys thefe con- 

 ditions. 



4. Thus have I often-times feen in this County, in all appear- 

 ance a very good foil, and fuch indeed as would otherwife have 

 been really fo , lefs fertile becaufe of its fliallownefs , and a 

 cold Jliffclay, or clofe free-Jlone next under-neath it, than a much 

 poorer Land of fome considerable depth, and lying over a fand 

 or gravel, through which all fuperfluows moifture might defcend, 

 and not ftand, as upon clay or fione, to chill the roots and make 

 the Cornlangui(h. 



5. Where by the way let it be noted, that I faid a cold ftiff 

 clay or clofe free-Jlone ; for if there be under a fliallow mould, a 

 clay that's mixed (as 'tis common in the blew ones of this County*) 

 either with pyrites aureus, or brafi lumps ; or the ftones be of the 

 warm calcariou* kind, it may neverthelefs be fruitful in Corn, be- 

 caufe thefe, I fuppofe, do warm the ground, and give fo much 

 ftrength, that they largely recompence what was wanting in 

 depth. 



6, More poflibly might have been added to this general ac- 

 count of Earths, and not a little inftru&ive to the Farmers of the 

 Country, but I found moft of them froward and to flight my 

 Quire's ; let them therefore thank themfelves if I am not fo ob- 

 liging : Befide, it feems a bufinefs a little befide my defign, there- 

 fore 



