FORMATION 



O F 



SOIL 



39^ 



OxALis aad Calendula, another little dioicous plant, called 



us 



p 



HYLLACHNE 



together with the Mniarum *.. Thefe 



plants, or the greater parf of them, have a peculiar growth, par- 



-4 



ticularly adapted to tliefe regions,, and* fit for forming foil and 



■ 



mc id on barren rocks. In proportion as they grow up, they 



J into various ftems and branches,-, which lie as clofe together 



as ■ 



r 



^ 



lible: they ipread nev/ ieeds, and at lafl a large fpot is covered 5; 

 lowcrmoft fibres,, roots, ilalks and leaves gradually decay and. 

 puia forth on the top ntw verdant leaves: the decaying lower parts 



form 



a kind of peat or turf, which gradually changes into, mould 



iJ. foil. The clofe texture of thefe plants, hinders the moiflure 



below from evaporating, and tlius furnifhes nutriment; to the vege— 



tation above,, and clothes at lafk whole hills and illes- with; a 



con 



ilant verdure. Among thefe pumilous plants, fome of a greater 



L 

 1 



Mature begin to thrive,, without in the leail prejudicing the growth 

 M thefe creators of mould and foil. Among thefe plants we reckoir. 

 a fmall Arbutus,, a diminutive myrtle, a little dandelion, a fmalL 



creeping Crassula, the common Ping uicu la ^//^zW,.. a yellow 

 variety of the Viola palujirh, the St.ati.c.e armeria, ot fea pink,. 



a kind of burnet, the Ranunculus kpponicus.y the Ho lcus £?*/<? 



rat us, the common celery, with the Arab is bet crop by Ila. Soon? 



t 



after we "obfcrvfid in places that are ftlll covered with the above- 



FORMA- 

 TION OP 



SOIL. 



14: 



■I'- 



mentioneti 



^A 



* See Forften NovaGeneraPlantarum, 



