Of OXFO% r D~SHI%E. di 



many fubterraneous Plants not noted, of which I intend a dili- 

 gent enquiry r . After the Peats are taken out, they fill up the 

 ground again with the grafly earth that was firft cut up. And at 

 Cowley, where they alfo dig them, they ufually leave the depth of 

 one ffrade-graft at the bottom, as a foundation whereon they may 

 grow again, which in the fpace of twenty or thirty years, 'tis 

 obferv'd they will do in the North of England* . 



42. The fcarcity alfo of fireing has induced fome People to 

 burn a fort of black fubflance, of a grain fomwhat like rotten 

 wood half burnt, but participating alfo of a Mineral nature, and 

 therefore by Authors called Met allophy turn, or Lignum foffde s : 

 put into water, it will not fwim ; and into fire, it confumes but 

 flowly, and fends forth very unpleafant fumes : it is found in a 

 Quarry called Langford-fits, m the Parifri of Kidlington, not far 

 from Thruf, about eighteen foot deep under the Rock, where 

 there lies a bed about four inches thick. But at Duckl'mgton I 

 met with a much finer kind, and richer in bitumen ; for though 

 on the out fide it looks like wood, yet broken, it Chews a fmooth 

 znd.ft\\mng fuperficies, not unlike to flone-fitch, and put in the 

 fire, has not near fo ill a fmell. This was dug, and kindly be- 

 llowed upon me by the Worfhipful William Bayly Efq; who told 

 mebefide of an Aluminous earth that he fom where alfo found in 

 his ground. As for the fubftance, Lignum foffde it is thought to 

 be originally a cretaceous earth, turned to what it is by fubterra- 

 neons heats, which probably at Kidlington may indeed be great, 

 becaufe reflefted by the Quarry above it, for that it was never 

 formerly wood, notwithftanding its fpecious and outward like- 

 nefs, is plain, from its never being found with roots or boughs, or 

 any other figns of wood. 



43 . At Marjb Balden Heath, and Nuneham-Courtney, they have 

 a fort of earth of du&ile parts, which put in the fire fcarcely 

 cracks, and has been formerly ufed by Potters, but upon what 

 account I know not, now neglected. There is alfo a Clay near 

 Little Milton that might very well ferve for the Potters ufe. And 

 at Shotover-hill there is a white clay, the fourth fold of earth in 

 the way to the Ochre, which during the late wars, in the fiege of 

 Oxford, was wholly ufed for making Tobacco-fifes there ; and is 



r Vid. Nich. Stetunis Vrodrom. * They dig prety good Peats alfo near the Wyke at Heddington ; and 

 in a bo^gy ground Eaft-ward of Elsfie/d Church. Ol. Warmii> Mufamm /; 2. cap. 6. 



I ftill 



