Chap. XIV. Of Change of 'Species, ztf 



The under Earth, in fome time, is replenilhed by 

 what the Rains leave, when they fink through it ; 

 and then Tap-rooted Plants may be there nourifhed 

 again, tho' the upper Earth be drained by the Corn; 

 fo that no Change is fo beneficial, as that betwixt 

 Tap-rooted Plants, and thofe which have only hori- 

 zontal ones. The former are provided for by Rains, 

 though not fo fpeedily as the latter are by Tillage and 

 Hoeing. 



Paftures require no Change of Herbs ; becaufe 

 they have annually the fame Supply of Food from 

 the Dunging of Cattle that feed on them, and from 

 the Benefit of the Atmofphere. 



Meadows hold out without Change of Species of 

 Grafs, tho' a Crop be carried off every Year \ the 

 Richnefs of that Soil, with the Help of the Atmo- 

 fphere, Dung of Cattle in feeding the After-Crop, 

 or elfe Flooding, from the overflowing of fome 

 River, fome, or all of which, fupply the Place of 

 the Plough to a Meadow. 



Woods alfo hold out beyond Memory or Tradi- 

 tion, without changing Sorts of Trees ; and this by 

 the Leaves, and perhaps old Wood, rotting on the 

 Soil annually, which operate as a Manure; becaufe, 

 as has been faid, Earth which has once paffed any 

 VefTels, is fo changed, that, for a long time after, it 

 does not retain its Homogeneity (e) fo much as to 

 mix with pure Earth* without fermenting •, and by 

 the Defcent of the Atmofphere, the Trees fhadowing 

 the Soil, to prevent the Re-afcent of what that brings 

 down -, all this, refembiing Tillage, continually di- 

 vides the Soil, and renews the Food equal to the Con- 

 fumption of it made by the Wood. 



And the laft Argument I (hall attempt to bring 

 for Confirmation of all I have advanced, is that 



(e) Not that the Particles of Earth are ftrictfy homogeneous, 

 but chat :hey are much lefs heterogeneous, before they arc altered 

 by Vefiels, than afterwards, 



which 



