OF EARTH. 



27 



There are, I confess, who fancy that this long exposure of earth, before 

 it be employed for a crop, causes it to exhale and spend the virtue which 

 it should retain ; but provided nothing be suffered to grow on it whilst it 

 lies thus rough and fallow, there is no danger of that, there being in truth 

 no compost or lagtation whatsoever, comparable to this continual motion, 

 repastination, and turning of the mould with the spade ; the pared-off 

 turf (which is the very fat and efflorescence of the earth) and even Weeds 

 with their vegetable salts, collected into heaps and exposed, when re- 

 duced, fall into natural, sweet, and excellent mould. I say, this is a 

 marvellous advantage, and does, in greater measure, fertilize the ground 

 alone, without any other addition ; for the earth, which was formerly 

 dull and unactive, or perhaps producing but one kind of plant, will by 

 this culture, dispose itself to bring forth variety, as it lies in depths, be 

 it never so profound, cold, and crude, the nature of the plant always 

 following the genius of the soil ; but indeed requiring time, according 

 to the depth from whence you fetch it, to purge and prepare itself, and 

 render it fit for conception, evaporating the malignant hahtuses and 

 impurities of the imprisoned air, laxing the parts, and giving easy de- 

 liverance to its offspring. 



I do not dispute whether all plants have their primogenial seeds, (as in 

 truth I believe they have,) and that nothing emerges spontaneously and 

 at adventure ; but, that these would rise freely in all places, if impedi- 

 ments were removed, (of which something has already been spoken,) and 

 to shew how pregnant most earths would become, were these indisposi- 

 tions cured, and that those seminal rudiments, wherever latent, were free 

 to move and exert their virtue, by taking off these chains and weights 

 which fetter and depress them. 



It is verily almost a miracle to see how the same land, without any other 

 manure or culture, will bring forth and even luxuriate ; and that the 

 bare raking and combing only of a bed of earth, now one way, then ano- 

 ther, as to the regions of heaven and polar aspects, shall diversify the 

 annual production, which is a secret worthy to be considered. I am only 

 to caution our labourer as to the present work, that he do not stir the 

 ground in over wet and slabby weather; that the sulcus or trench be made 

 to run from north to south, and that if there be occasion for opening of a 



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