THE CULTURE OF PLANTS 

 CHAPTER II 



HOW TO CULTIVATE AND PREPARE GROUNDS 



HAVING shew'd the several wayes of propagating 

 plants, it is also most requisite that you prepare the 

 ground for effectuating the same. And that is, in 

 the first place, 



To trench it, viz. begin at one end of the ground, 

 (you mean thus to cultivate and open) by a trench 

 from one side thereof to the other, three or four foot 

 broad, from one to two foot deep, as the quality of 

 the ground admits, and the plants require, as liquor- 

 ish, which must have it deeper. This being opened, 

 measureoff otherf our f ootparallel at its side, turne 

 that into the open trench, with the turf or surface 

 in the bottome and the clean earth on the top ; the 

 filling whereof emptieth another ; therefore cut off 

 other four foot, and turne in as before ; thus trench 

 by trench till the whole be finished. I presume you 

 carry the earth of the first trench to fill the last, or 

 have other wayes filled hollo wes there with, and left 

 the last trench open (if convenient) for receiving 

 weeds. Or if the ground be hollow in the middle, 

 begin there, and trench both wayes to help the level ; 

 if high in the middle, begin at both sides or ends, till 



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