Of OXFO% r D^Hl%E. 55 



fore in haft I proceed to a more particular Confideration of Earths 

 (as before of Waters) holding fome Spirit, Bitumen, or concrete 

 Juice , and as they are ufeful in Trades, or are otherwife necevTary, 

 convenient, or ornamental. 



7. But herein I flhall not fhew my felf either fo angry or igno- 

 rant, or fo much either difrefpecl: my fubjeft, or the civilities of 

 the Gentry for the fake of the clowns, as not in the next place to 

 treat of luch Earths whofe molt eminent ufes relate to Husbandry, 

 fince they alfo hold fome concrete Juices (whereby they become 

 improvements of fuch poor barren Lands) and are therefore 

 very fuitable to my prefent purpofe. 



8. The beft of thefe we call commonly 3for/.y,whereof,though 

 'twas believed there were none in Oxford-Jbire, yet I met with no 

 lefs than three feveral forts, and in quantities fufficient enough 

 forufe. The Britijb Marls were very famous of old, whereof 

 Pliny" numbers feveral forts ; and of principal note were the 

 LeucargilU , whereby, he fays, Britan was greatly enriched : 

 And of this kind, that I guefs may be one, lately difcovered by 

 the much Honored, and my truly noble Friend, ThomoiStoncr Efq; 

 of Watlington-P ark^, of which he already has had good expe- 

 rience : of colour it is whitijh, a little inclining to yellow, not 

 very fat, and of fo eafie diifolution, that it may be laid on 

 the ground at any time of the year, and may be as good, I fup- 

 pofe, for pafiure as arable : this he found at a place near Blunds - 

 Court, but I think within the Parifti of Shiplake, where upon an- 

 other account finking a deep pit, amongil: other matters he met 

 with this MarL 



9. Since that, there has lately been another difcovered by that 

 eminent Virtuojo Sir Tbomat Pennyjion, in his own Grounds in the 

 Parifhof Cornwell, about a quarter of a mile north-weft of his 

 Houfe, of a blue colour, and foabfterfive, that it would readily 

 enough take fpots out of cloaths, and gave its owner fome ground 

 to hope, thatpoffibly it might be fit for the Fullers ufe ; but he 

 quickly, upon tryal, difcovered an incurable fault that the Men 

 of that Trade will never pardon: however, I take it to be fo 

 rich a Marl, that it may amply recompence the induftry of its 

 Mafter, if laid on its neighboring barren Hills; which I advife 

 may be done about the beginning of Winter, that the Frofts and 



r THn. Nat. Hi[i. Ub. 17. cap. 6, 7. 



Rain 



