40 



A DISCOURSE 



BOOK I. vernal. For other seminations in general, some divide the spring in 



three parts, the beginning, middle, and end ; and the like of the autumn, 

 both for sowing and planting, and accordingly prepare for the work such 

 nursery furniture as seems most agreeable to the season : 



Good husbandry will force a soil that's bad. 



Note, that six bushels of Acorns will sow or plant an acre at one 

 foot distance : And if you mingle amongst the Acorns the seeds of 



trenched, -which will effectually produce an uniform mixture of all the parts. This being 

 done, let the ground be levelled, and the beds laid out for the different purposes, reserving 

 proper portions for the reception of such seeds as must be sown in spring. 



A very judicious planter has recommended to me the following method of making a 

 Seminary. Trench the ground in November eighteen inches deep, if the soil will admit 

 of it ; but M'here the staple is too thin, one foot will be sufficient, in which case the sward 

 must be pared off very thin, and laid in the bottom of the trench. The following year let 

 this land be cultivated with a crop of cabbages, turnips, or rape, which must be eat off by 

 sheep. After this a common digging will be sufficient, previous to its being formed into 

 beds for the reception of the seeds. It will be necessary to remark upon this mode of 

 preparation, that the urine of sheep is considered as one of the most cherishing manures 

 for all plants raised in a Seminary. 



Proinde nemus sparsa cures de glande parandum : 

 Sed tamen ante tuo mandes quam semina campo. 

 Ipse tibi duro robustus vomere fossor 

 Omne solum subigat late, explanetque subactum. 

 Cumque novus fisso primum de germine ramus 

 Findit humum, rursus ferro versanda bicorni 

 Consita vere novo tellus, cultuque frequenti 

 Exercenda, herbae circum ne forte nocentes 

 Proveniant, germenque ipsum radicibus urant. 

 Nec cultu campum cunctantem urgere frequenti, 

 Et saturare fimo pudeat, si forte resistat 

 Culturae : nam tristis humus superanda colendo est. 



RAPINUS. 



Then see your hopeful grove with Acorns sown; 

 But e'er your seed into the field be thrown. 

 With crooked plough first let the lusty swain 

 Break up, and stubborn clods with harrow plane : 

 Then, when the stem appears, to make it bare. 

 And lighten the hard earth with hough, prepare : 

 Hough in the spring, nor frequent culture fail. 

 Lest noxious weeds o'er the young wood prevail. 

 To barren ground with toil large manure add ; 



