( 4S5 ) 
vors to fliew the feveral forts and kinds of Earth ^ as they refide in 
their feveral Beds, together with the indications, by which we may 
difcover their qualities and perfefiions^and iafi:ry,how we may beft 
improve it to the llfes of the Husbaodtnan, the Forrefter,and the 
Gardener ; which is indeed of large and profitable extent, though 
it be but poor and mean,compared to Mines of Gold and Silver. 
In the fecond pare he not only rakes notice, amoog the reft, of the 
^iiwth oi om Se^fes in giving their verdift of the feveral qualities 
of Earths 5 but alfo acquaints us with the Microfcopical exanii- 
nation he 'hath made of divers forts both of Earth and Soils or 
Dungs ; thereby encouraging others to inquire and obferve , whe- 
ther the very fineft Earth, and befl: of Moulds, however to appear- 
ance mixtwi;h divers imperfed bodies, do not coofifl: more of 
Sandy or Salin parcicles, than of any other ^ and'by fuch inquiry 
tofirid out the prmiples of Vegetation : Stiggefting further feverai 
Quire's belonging to this argument 5 as , how far Principles might 
bemultiplied and differenced by alteration and condenfation ? 
Whether Earth, ftript of all heterogenity, retain only weight and 
aninfipid ficcity ? And whether it produce or afford any thing 
more than embracement tothe firft rudimenrsof Plants; protection 
to the roots and flrability to thef^em 5 unprolific, as chey fay, till 
married to fomething of amoremafculine vertue , but otherwaies 
nourifliingonly from what it.attf ads without any afiive or mate- 
rial contribution ?&c. ' ' ' 
fn the third parthe teaches firfl^ How we iiia'y improve the befb 
Earths, and apply remedy to the woril: , only by labour, ftirring, 
ventilating, fliading and repofing?, whichbeingthe leaftiArtificial, 
approach the n^areft to Nature: Where he ootesjamong maRy'Otber 
excellent partlailarsj that the bire raking arid combing only of a 
bed of Earth, now oneway, then an other/ as to the regions of 
Heaven and polar Afpefts ^ may diverfify the annual produftior- 
To which he fubjoyns feveral Mechanic ihxds, (withour Jlercorafi- 
whereby* the Soil may be rendred of a very exteofii^c tapacity 
fonhe enfertainment of forreign and un-eoiivrnohM-iants ; Gom- 
imnding Irrig^itiofi ot Watering as one of the richdfMmprovements 
that ever was put in praflice, efpecially where fat and impregnafe 
waters may be had , without grittinefs , oi" being over-harfh and 
cold : Teaching a!fo the cure of wet and boggy Lands, and fuch as 
arecold^i^d^lry, liungry and hot , too light and over-r mk ; and 
fuch as become unfruitful by the neighbourhood-of other-P!auts,df- 
>n;- . . vourii^g 
