S04 O^Luserne. Chap. XIII. 



mould be the Reafon why Apples in Hereford/hire, 

 and Cherries in Kent, fucceed better than in other 

 Places, when in truth they are feen to profper as well 

 almoft all over England, where planted, cultivated, 

 and preferved. 



I believe Plants arc more altered as to their Growth, 

 by being cultivated or not, than by Change of Cli- 

 mates differing in very many Degrees of Latitude. 

 I fay, in their Growth, not always in their Fruit; for 

 tho' a Peach-tree, well cultivated in a Standard, will 

 grow here vigoroufly, and be very beautiful ; yet 

 its Fruit will be of little Value, unlefs it be planted 

 againft a good Wall : So Luferne, unlefs cultivated 

 upon a well expofed Gravel, will yield little Seed in 

 England. 



The Soil to plant it on is either an hot Gravel, a 

 very rich dry Sand, or fome other rich warm Land, 

 that ha^ not an under Stratum of Clay, nor is too 

 near the Springs of Water ; for, if the Earth below 

 be of a cold Nature, which I take to be occafioned 

 by its holding of Water, the Luferne will not long 

 profper therein, of whatever Sort the upper Stratum 

 of Earth may be: This* may be gueffed at by the Ve- 

 getables a Soil naturally produces, as Fern, and the 

 like; which, Mr. Evelyn obferves, do indicate a Soil 

 fubjecl to Extremities of Heat and Cold; and con- 

 demns fuch a Soil as accurfed. I agree to that Sen- 

 tence, as far as relates to Cold ; but am not fatisfied of 

 its abounding with Heat ; and I am fure I know fome 

 Land very fubjecl to Fern, which is very far from 

 being barren, when well cultivated, and well fuited 

 with Vegetables ; but, from among thefe, Luferne 

 muft be excluded. 



Luferne in hot Countries grows beft near Rivers, 

 where its Roots reach the Water, which helps to mi- 

 tigate the exceMive Fleat of the Climate ; but here the 

 Heats are fo moderate, that if Luferne-roots are in 

 Water (lor 'tis that that makes Earth cold) it dimi- 

 3 nifhes 



