io8 The PraBice ^ art 11. 



which they give Fire, by Trains laid for that purpofe s and 

 this they call Springing a Mine. 



In digging away Ground, feveral Banks, which the 

 • Temoins. French call ^ j^^;^^//>x,fliould be left till the Work be whol- 

 ly finiilied 5 thefe ferve to meafure the Quantity of Rubbiih- 

 Earth, and to pay the Diggers by, who often cheat one 

 when thefe are taken away, by charging a greater^ Height of 

 Ground than there was. Thefe Diggers, or Terrals-Makers, 

 in France^ are paid by the Cubical Fathom, which Ihould 

 have fix Foot every way, and contain, in all, 216 Cubical 

 Feet^ whereas the fquare Fatliom has no more than 36 Su- 

 perficial Feet. 



W E are now come to the Manner of removing Eartli, 

 which is a very necelfary Point to be known, taking Notice, 

 that it fhould be always carried as little away as is poffible; 

 thefe Works being very tedious of themfelves, and an un- 

 conceivable Expence, how fliort foever the Diftance be. 



There are four feveral Ways of carrying off Earth, in 

 Carts drawn by Horfes, in Wheelbarrows drove by Men, 

 in Dorfers or Hampers carried by Horfes or Alfes, and iw 

 Baskets upon Mens Backs. The beft of die four is, without 

 Doubt, that which goes fafteft, and cofts leaft ; but the Dif- 

 ficulty lies in knowing well which that is. 



The firft, which is to carry away the Earth in Carts, 1$., 

 that which cofts moft, a Horfe and Man being necelfary for 

 this purpofe, fo that it is rarely made ufe of, but to clear the 

 Rubbilh from Buildings, or in fmall Gardens in the City^ 

 where there is but little Earth to he taken away : But in 

 great Gardens, where there is oftentimes a vaft Quantity of 

 Earth to remove, the three other are to be preferred. One 

 can fcarcely determine which is the beft, fonie being for 

 Baskets and Wheelbarrows, and others for Panniers carried 

 by Horfes or Afles. If Men that drive the Wheelbarrow, or 

 carry the Basket, would make Confcience to do a good 

 Day's Work, I fliould prefer them: But as thofe People are 

 generally intolerably lazy, arid have no Concern but to fpia 

 out the Day, unlefs you have Men on purpofe to look after 

 them,- I efteem the way of carrying upon Affes Backs to be 

 the beft. of all. My Reafon is xhi$p 



