236 Of Change of S p e c i e s. Chap. X1V\ 



the under Earth could be as well tilled for the Tap- 

 roots, as the upper Earth is for the horizontal, the 

 Tap-roots would fucceed one another as well as the 

 horizontal would fucceed them, or thofe of their 

 own Species, or as the Tap-roots do the horizon- 

 tal. 



all, but fed by Horfes teddered {or flaked) thereon the Firfl and 

 Second Years; and after that had nothing on it but poor natural 

 Grafs. 



The whole Field was managed alike, when plowed up; but the 

 Three Acres produced vifibly worfe Crops of Corn than the reft 

 all round it, which had produced St. Foin. 



The other Example or Inftance was, Where an Acre, Part of 

 a Field, was, by a Fancy, drilled with St. Foin in fingle Rows, 

 about Thirty-three Inches afunder, but was never hoed : After 

 Seven Years it was plowed up with the reft of the Field crofs the 

 Rows, and fown with Oats upon the Back Three Months after 

 plowing. Thefe Rows were as vifible in the Oats, as if the St. 

 Foin had been ftill remaining there: The Oats in the Rows where 

 the St. Foin had been, looked of a deep green flourifhing Colour, 

 at flrft coming up, and until they were about half a Foot high, 

 and the Spaces between them looked yellowifh ; but afterwards 

 the Difference of their Colour difappeared, all the Crop being 

 very good. Upon this I imputed it to the Rotting of the Roots, 

 which by their Singlenefs were very large; and when the differ- 

 ent Colours difappeared, I fuppofe the FvOOts of all the Oats had 

 reached to the Benefit of the rotted Roots, which might alfo be 

 then fpread farther into the Spaces; and I doubt not but that the 

 Rotting of Broad Clover-roots has the fame Effect as of St. Foin, 

 for manuring of Land, efpecially when the Roots are large. 



Some have obje&ed againft this Opinion, and fay the Effect 

 was rather to be imputed to the Rows of St. Foin fhadowing the 

 Earth under them, or elfe from their keeping the Earth under them 

 free from Couch-grafs, of which the Intervals were full : But I 

 think it more probable, that the Couch-grafs, having very long 

 horizontal Roots, might draw Nourifhment from the Earth under 

 the Rows, and from the Intervals equally. 



And as to the Shadow of the Rows, tho\ for the Firfl and Se- 

 cond Years, the St. Foin Plants were very large ; yet, being af- 

 terwards, for Five or Six Years, until plowed up, conftantly fed 

 by Cattle, and being more fweet, was eaten very low, whilft the 

 Couch-grafs remained intire in the Intervals, and fhadowed them 

 more than the Earth of the Rows was fhadowed by the St. Foin : 

 Befrdes, the rotten Turneps, which were freed from both thefe 

 Gbjecliont, had the fame EfTeft on the Barley, as the St. Foin had 

 on the Oats. 



The 



