24$ Of Change ^Individuals. Chap. XV, 



never been impregnate at Patney: But if Town a De* 

 gree farther North, on cold clayey Land, will, in 

 Two or Three Years, lofe this Quality, and become 

 as late ripe as any other. 



Indeed Patney is far from improving the Species of 

 Barley, except we think it improved by becoming 

 more weak and tender, and fhorter-lived ; which lail> 

 mentioned Quality fits it for fuch Countries, where 

 the Summers are too fhort for other Barley to ripen. 



The Grains or Seeds of Vegetables are their Eggs; 

 and the individual Plants, immediately proceeding 

 from them, have not only the Virtues they received 

 in Embryo (or rather in plantulis), but the Difeafes 

 alfo •, for when fmutty Wheat is fown, unlefs the 

 Year prove very favourable, the Crop will be fmutty; 

 which is an evident Token of mala ftamina. 



The fmutty Grains will not grow *, for they turn 

 to a black Powder: But when fome of thefe are in a 

 Crop, then, to be fure, many of the reft are infected; 

 and the Difeafe will fhew itfelf in the next Generation, 

 or Defcent of it, if the Year wherein 'tis planted 

 prove a wet one. 



Weeds, and their Seed, -in the Fields where they 

 grow naturally, for Time immemorial, come to as 

 great Perfection as ever, without Change of Soil. 



Thefe Weeds, with Acorns, and other Marts, 

 Crabs, Sloes, Hips, and Haws, are thought to have 

 been, originally, the only natural Product of our 

 Climate: Therefore other Plants being Exotics, many 

 of them, as to their Iudividuals, require Culture and 

 Change of Soil, without which they are liable more 

 or lefs to degenerate. 



But to fay, that the Soil can caufe Wheat to dege- 

 nerate into Rye, or convert Rye into Wheat, is what 



I believe, formerly loft about Two hundred Pounds per Ann. by 

 lowing rath-ripe Barley: But long and dear Experience hath now 

 convinced them of their Error, and obliged them totaily to dif- 

 ufe it. 



reflects 



