Viil A Treatise on Vegetatiok, ^c. 



part may be well rotted to mix with the earth ; which 

 mud be well riddled to take out the ftones. 



The white Sand, over which the fea flows, is very 

 good for flowers, as it i"s animated with its faline efflu- 

 via ; but this mufl: be cautioufly ufed, as it is too fall for 

 immediate ufe, and would be of dangerous confequence ; 

 and (hould the proportion be lefTened, it would not an- 

 fwer the purpofe of properly dividing the particles. The 

 befl; method is, to lay it in your Compoft-yard for two 

 months, in which time much of its crude falts will 

 evaporate, fo as to be fit for ufe. 



They have a fand in Holland, which is upon the hil- 

 locks of their paflures on the fea fhore, this they dig for 

 two or three feet deep, which is fat, glutonous, and 

 brackifh; this they carry to their Compoll-yards, and, 

 after expofing it fume time to the fun, they ufe it in 

 their Comports. This is the very befl: Sand for all forts 

 of flowers. It divides the earth and dung eff^e6lually. It 

 is very fine in its texture; and the falts it contains, pro- 

 mote Vegetation to admiration. 



t Where the fand I have recommended is not to be had, 

 we mufl ufe pit or frefh river fand. Pit Sand, which is 

 very often clayifh, mufl: be put into a veflTel with water ; 

 and wafhed until the water comes off^ clear, which mufl: 

 be expofcd fome time to the air and fun before it is fit 

 to be mixed with your Compofl:. The river »r brook 

 fand, which has clayifli particles often mixed with it, 

 muft be taken the fame care of in wgfliing and expo- 

 fing to the fun and air, which will foon fit it for your 

 Compofl;-heap; and when you have planted your roots, 

 Ihould you obferve that they do not vegetate nor blow as 

 fafl: and as fair, as you could wifli, to four cartfuls of 

 your Compofl:, when properly made up, add ten pounds 

 of fait, diflblved in water, which pour on the heap. 



In the inland countries they have' the advantage of 

 raofs, or mofly earth ; which, when duly prepared, is 

 very free, and, when enriched with proper manure, is 

 one of the beft foils for flowers, and is next in goodnefs 

 for that purpofe to what the Englifh Fiorifls call Wood- 

 pik Earth, and nearefl: in quality to the Dutch foil. To 

 make this fit for ufe, ufe the following method of pre- 

 paring 



