OF EARTH. 



5 



about a foot deep, more or less, in our fields, before we come to any- 

 manifest alteration of colour or perfection. This surface-mould is the 

 best and sweetest, being enriched with all that the air, dews, showers, 

 and celestial influences can contribute to it : for it is with good earth as 

 with excellent water, that is the best which with least difficulty receives 

 all external qualities ; for the fatness of this under-turf mould, being- 

 drawn up by the kindly warmth of the sun to the superficies, spends but 

 little of its vigour in the grass and tender verdure which it produces, 

 and easily nourishes without dissipating its virtue, provided no rank 

 weeds or predatious plants (consummating their seeds) be suffered to grow 

 and exhaust it, but maintains its natural force, and is, therefore, of all 

 other uncultivated moulds, the most grateful to the husbandman 



Now as the rest of incumbent and subjacent earths approach this in- 

 virtue, so they are to be valued ; and of these there are several kinds, dis- 

 tinguishable by their several constitutions; the best of which is black, fat, 

 yet porous, light, and sufficiently tenacious, without any mixture of sand 

 or gravel ; rising in pretty gross clods at the first breaking up of the 

 plough ; but with little labour and exposure falling to pieces, but not 

 crumbling altogether into dust, which is the defect of a more vicious sort. 

 Of this excellent black mould, fit almost for any thing without much 

 manure, there are three kinds, which differ in hue and goodness. 



The next layer in series to this, is usually mixed with a sprinkling of 

 stones, somewhat hard, yet friable, and when well aired and stirred, is 



With this loose covering, the earth is every where invested, unless it be washed off' 



by rains, or removed by some other external violence. " It is the eartli that, like a kind 



mother, receives us at our birth, and sustains us when born. It is this alone, of all the 

 elements around us, that is never found an enemy to man. The body of waters deluge 

 him with i-ains, oppress him with hail, and drown him with inundations ; the air rushes in 

 storms, prepares the tempest, or lights up the volcano ; but the earth, gentle and indul- 

 gent, ever subservient to the wants of man, spreads his walks with flowers, and his table 

 with plenty ; returns with interest every good committed to her care; and though she pro- 

 duces the poison, she still supplies the antidote ; though constantly teased more to furnish- 

 the luxuries of man than his necessities, yet, even to the last, she continues her kind in- 

 dulgence, and when life is over, she piously hides his remains in her bosom." Plin, NoA 

 Hist. 1. ii. 



