Improvement of arahie Ldhi. i^% 



Sterility and Dilcolour: By breaking up and 

 fweliing to the Earth, we may then judge of 

 its Qualities, and by carrying of thofe Springs 

 by Drains, &c* and expofing the Earth it 

 felf to the Ventilations and other Emunda*- 

 tions of the Sun and Air, it may in time be 

 fvveetried and ftript of thofe unwholfome Ef* 

 fluvia, that render it loathfotne to the Ani-» 

 mal, as well as Vegetable Part of the Cre- 

 ation* 



Another Proof of good Moldi is by 

 the touch, or handling, by which we 

 difcover v/hether it confifts of Subftanceg^ 

 entirely arenaceous, or clammy ; or, as Mr^ 

 Evelyn exprefles it, whether it be tenera, fat- 

 ty, deterfive, or flipper y^ or more harfhjj 

 gritty^ porous, or friable ; that being always 

 beftj which is between the two Extreams, and 

 not containing the two different Q^aalities of 

 fofc and hard mix'd, of churlifli and mild, of 

 raoitt and dry; not too unftaous nor too lean, 

 but fuch as will eafily diflbrveyof a juft Con-^ 

 fiftence between Sand and Clay, and fuch as 

 will not (lick to the Spade or fingers upori 

 every flalhof Rain. In a Word, as Mr. Eve^ 

 lyn has it, that is the beft Earth in all Senfes, 

 that is of a blackifti Gray (or Irither affirm^^ 

 a lively Chefnut, or Hazel Colour) cuts like 

 Butter, (licks not obftinately^ but is Ihorrj 

 tolerably light, breaking into fmall Clods-^ 

 is Ivyeet, will be tempered withouft cruflidg, 



M ^t 



