iv A Treatise on Vegetation, crV. 



two forts; the Primula Fen's, properly fo called, which 

 carries but one flower upon a O.eni ; and the Folyantbos 

 Primula Feris, which carries many flowers upon a ftem. 

 The Compoft they require to piofper in, is thus made: 

 To two thirds of rich Garden Earth, or rather Virgin 

 Earth, (by Virgin F^arth I mean that dug from under 

 old paft:ure, nine inches deep, which was never Ipaded) 

 this, with the fed, is to be laid up in an heap for two 

 years to rot, w ith one third of fine white Sand ; if this 

 cannot be had, fea Sand, over which the fea flows, will 

 do: but you are to obferve with refpeft to fea fand, that 

 you are to lay it open to the fun and air two months before 

 It is ufed, that its crude falts may be properly digefted ; 

 which praftice is proper not only in this, but in all cafes 

 where fand, over which the fea flows, is made ufe of; 

 if neither fea Sand nor white Sand can be conveniently 

 had, m that cafe pit Sand, or frefh river Sand may be 

 taken. The before-mentioned proportions muft in all 

 cafes be ftrictly obferved, unlefs the foil is a clay. In 

 this lafl cafe half fand and half clay mufl: be taken ; and 

 the CompolT: muft lie twelve months, to be turned up 

 every fortnight, to reduce and moulder the clay. 



Before I proceed further in the directions for Com- 

 ports, it may be proper to take notice of the feveral 

 dungs which are to be ufed to enrich and meliorate the 

 diff^erent heaps, to be afterwards direfted. Dungs in 

 general are defigned to repair the decays of txhaurted or 

 worn-out lands, and to cure their defers, which are as 

 various as there are dungs to meliorate and reftore them. 

 Some lands are cold, moifl: and heavy ; others again 

 are light and dry. The nature of dungs are equally 

 various ; lome are hot and light, as flieeps, horfes and 

 pigeons dung; others again are fat and cooling, fuch 

 as the dung of oxen, cows, and hogs. Frefh dung 

 is never to be ufed. It ought to lie by at leafl: twelve 

 months to rot; after which to be expofed to the fun; 

 and when dry, beaten and fitted, and made into as 

 fine aconfifience as pofiible. This management of your 

 dung is only neceffary, when you are to mix it with 

 the Compoft intended for the fineil: flowers ; but dung 

 properly rotted, although you are not at the expence of 



beating 



