OF EARTH. 



47 



elm and olive, (which is at antipathy with the oak, and imparts also 

 such a bitterness to the mould, as kiUs lettuce and other subnascent 

 plants,) and why so affect to live in crowds, others in solitude, is hard 

 to say ; but that firs, pines, cedars, elms, and divers other trees, aspire 

 and grow so tall in society, may be (as from other causes) so from their 

 not overglutting themselves with nourishment, (for compost is not their 

 dehght,) which inclines them rather to shoot upwards than expand and 

 spread. 



Lastly, Ground is rendered barren by shade, and the dripping of um- 

 brageous trees. To these, air and sun may be soon restored, by remov- 

 ing the screens which intercept them ; and yet all shade is not unpro- 

 pitious where the soil and climate are benign, as well as that which casts 

 the umbrage ; and of this we have a notable instance in some parts of 

 Africa, where the soil and air are so genial, that the olive is said to grow 

 under the date-tree, the fig under the olive, under the fig-tree the gra- 

 nade, mider that the vine, and under the vine a crop of corn, and at the 

 feet of the corn a certain pulse ; none of them impeded by the more than 

 reduplicated shades. But there are some, we must confess, amongst 

 us, which are not so propitious ; trees of all sorts (though the perennial 

 greens least) breathe as much after the air as the soil, and do not thrive 

 without it, nor except it be wholesome. 



But to return to barren earths, which are either out of heart by being 

 Spent, or from the nature of the soil, (in both which cases the plants pro- 

 duced, though never so unprosperous, run hastily to seed, or make an 

 offer,) they are to be restored by the plough, the spade, and the rake ; by 

 stirring and repose, appositions and mixtures of earth, calcinations, and 

 composts ; and above all, by tlie eye of the master, and dust of his feet, as 

 the Italian proverb has it. For after this process, and innumerable otlier 

 trials, (mixtures of things being endless,) aU other sorts of earths and 

 imperfect moulds may be treated and meliorated ; namely, if it be too 

 hard and close, mollify and relax it ; if too loose, give it ligature and 

 binding ; if too light, ballast ; if too meagre, fatten and impinguate it ; 

 if too rich and luxuriant, emaciate, and bring it down ; if too moist, ap- 

 ply exsiccatives ; if too cold, fermenting composts ; if excessive hot, cool 

 and refresh it : and thus earths should be married together like male and 

 female, as if they had sexes ; for being of so many several complexions, 



