( 10 04 ) 
Root of it felf, but alike at both ends^ as if it were cut 
with a Knife. The ground wherein it is found is ot a 
grcyifti colour^ about one inch or two thick, under which 
there is a black Earth for a foot in depth. So that I 
could find nothing in the places where moft of it was 
got, that I could rationally conclude to produce it : But 
in fome other fpots I found much of a talkifti Sand, and 
fome pieces of Flax near to it ^ as alfo pieces of the Stone 
much whiter than the reft, and very like talk ^ which 
would incline one to believe that it was produced of it. 
Yet there being no appearance of any talk in the other 
places, where moft ot it was found, I can fcarce con- 
clude any thing about the produdion of it^but leave it to 
others far more capable and ingenious in the knowledgp 
of Nature than I am. 
_ But whatever way it is produced, tho I have ix)t exa- 
mined what has been writ and faid of that Lwum by 
many, yet it feems tome by whztPlinjy Aldnnjundufy 
and OUhs Wormius wmtconctxnmg it, that this which 
Iffound in Scetland, is not inferioiir to any they Ipeak of^ 
for generally they make it very ftiort, whereas fpme of this 
I found 5, 6, 7, and fome 8 indies long- 
As for the making of it into Cloath, they allconcludc 
it very hard- ?iinj calls it inventn rarHm Uxin difficile 
propter breviutm. OUus Wormim in his Mtif<eum fays, 
mo dm vero quo ex eo jiant Una j^m penitm ignoraiur* I 
ronfefs indeed, it is true what VUny fays, yet it may be 
feen by the experioient I have ftiown, in making Yarn of 
it, that Cloath may be made of it alfo, for the diflSculty is 
j»uch greater in the one than the other.. 
il' An 
