24 



A DISCOURSE 



unprolific, as they say, till married to something of a more masculine vir- 

 tue, which irradiates her womb ; but otherwise, nourishing only from 

 what it attracts, without any active or material contribution ? It is in the 

 mean time, wonderful to consider how such vast, tall, and monstrous 

 trees, as firs, pines, and other alpestrals, (whose footing and roots insinuate 

 into the most dry and impenetrable rocks, without any earth or mould to 

 nourish them,) can grow, exposed as they are to the most rigid colds, 

 fierce winds, and other inclemencies of weather, if the rains, dews, mists, 

 tlie air, x)r other visible principle, appear in no proportion to the stature, 

 bulk, and substance of these goodly trees. These, indeed, with many 

 other queries, do appositely come in here ; but it would, perhaps, render 

 this Discourse more prolix than useful to enter upon them in detail ; nor 

 is it for me to undertake speculations of so abstruse a nature without un- 

 pardonable ostentation : and, therefore, having only offered something to- 

 wards the discovery of the great varieties and choice of earths, (such as 

 we gardeners and rustics for the most part meet with in our grounds,) my 

 next endeavour shall be to shew how we may improve the best, and pre- 

 scribe remedy to the worst, by labour and stirring only ; which, being 

 the least artificial, approaches the nearest to nature. 



At the first breaking up of your ground, therefore, let there be a 

 pretty deep trench, or furrow, made throughout, of competent depth, (as 

 is the manner of experienced gardeners,) the turf being first pared off and 

 laid by itself, with the first mould lying under it, and that of the next in 

 succession, that so they may both participate of the air, showers, and in- 

 fluences, to which they are exposed ; and this is to be done in severals, as 

 deep as you think fit, that is, so far as you find the earth well-natured ; 

 or you may fling it up in several small mounds or lumps, suffering the 

 frosts and snows of a winter or two (according as the nature of it seems to 

 require) to pass upon them, beginning your work about the commence- 

 ment of autumn, before the mould becomes too ponderous and sluggish ; 

 though some there are who choose an earlier season, and open their 

 ground when the sun approaches, not when he retires ; but certainly to 

 have the whole winter before us, does best temper and prepare it for 

 those impregnating agents. 



In separating the surface-mould from the deeper, whether you make a 

 trench, or dig holes to plant your trees in, be it for standards, espaliers, 



