tjp The Natural Bifiory Paf t V. 



neral Matter, which lay then undei*^ 

 neathj been altogether deftitute of this 

 Vegetative Intermixture, and had not 

 contained fome, though a fmaller and 

 more parfimonious Supply of it in 

 them : had there not been alfo vaft 

 numbers of Shells, Teeth, Bones, and 

 the like, lodged in them, which are, 

 B vid. when rotted and diffolved, || a proper 

 frfa^' ^' and natural Manure to the Earth, as 

 all Parts whatfbever of Animals, as 

 well as Vegetables, are ; they confift- 

 ing of fiach Matter as the upper and 

 Vegetative Stratum it fblf contains, and 

 therefore fuch as is fit for the Conftitu- 

 * Confer, tion of Plaots and of Animals ^ ; I fay, 

 j^pr^^* had it not been for this, when the up- 

 per and Vegetative Stratum was once 

 wafh'd off, and born down by Rains, 

 the Hills would have become all per- 

 fectly barren, the Strata below yielding 

 only meer fteril and mineral Matter, 

 fuch as was wholij inept and impro* 

 per for the Formation of Vegetables. 

 Nay, the Inconvenience would not 

 have ftopM there, but have fpread it 

 felf much further. For, the Vegeta- 

 tive Stratum being carried off, and 

 the Devolution ftill continuing, the 

 Matter of the lower or mm^idA Strata 



being 



