iC) The Theory Par-.^ I. 



this Place^ what th^ Ancients vifed to do (as divers Ai7thors 

 relate) to know if a Place were heakhrtiJ : They were wont 

 to ju4ge of the Quality of the Ah-, of the Water, and of 

 the Fruits of a Country, by the Confdtution of the Bodies 

 of fuch Becifts as were fed there, whofe Entrails they exa- 

 mined \ and when they found them wafted and corrupted, 

 they from thence conjedur'd, that thofe of Men v/onld be- 

 come fo likewife, fliould they inhabit the fame Places. 



'Tis not improper to mention here, that in the Bufinefs 

 of Gardening, we reckon Four different Expofitions of the 

 Sun; tha': of die Eaft, Weft, North, and South. 

 Fmr different The Eaftem ExpofitJon is that where the Sun fliines 

 nxpo^tmsaf fj;om Morning to Noon. 



The Weftern is that on which the Sun darts its Rays 

 from Noon to Evening. 



The Expofition to the North is that where the Sun fliews 

 itfslf the leaft; for it appears no more than about two Hours 

 in the Morning, and as many in the Evening, and is the 

 worft Expofition of all. 'Tis direftly oppofite to that of the 

 South, where the Sun fliines hotteft the whole length of the 

 Day j -which makes it efteemM the beft of die Four, and the 

 moft proper of all others for Gardens. 



I RETURN to the fecond Condition required, which is 

 a good Earth or Soil, that is to fay. Ground in it.s own Na- 

 ture rich and fruitful. It will not fuffice to have found an 

 Expofition healthful, turned to the South, and poffeffed of 

 all thofe Advantages I have already mentioned, if it be not 

 accompanied with a good Body of Eartli, and a Soil fertile 

 in itfelf: For^ without this, 'tis to be feared, all that is 

 planted will, in a while, droop and die away : To prevent 

 which^ the greateft Care imaginable fliould be taken accor-; 

 ding to the following Inftru£tions. 



To know if the Body of Earth be good^ you mlift di- 

 ftinguilii firft, whether it be an old decayed Garden to be 

 reftored^ or a new Place you defign to pitch upon. If it 

 be only an old Garden you intend to replant and new fur- 

 niflij the Earth iliould be dug in thofe Places where you 

 defign any new V/ork, whether Parterre, Grove, Bowling- 

 Green^, or die like > and if tlie Ground there be found not 



