The 3\(atural Hijlory 
that there vras here all maner of wood^ as in France, except the Y\t 
W Beech : of the laft whereof there is fuch plenty in the Chil- 
tern^ that they have now there- about fcarce any thing elfe ; but 
it lies fo far from Oxford^ and fo near the River fide, which eafily 
conveys it to London Mercat, that 'tis fcarce beneficial to the reft 
cf iht County. 
3. As to the qualifications of the Soil m refpeft of Corn^ I 
find them in goodnefs to differ much, and not only according to 
their feveral compofitions (being in fome places black-) or reddijh 
earth : in others a clay or chalky ground, fome mixt of earth znd 
fand^ clayznd fand-i gravel znd clay ^ is'C.') but chiefly according to 
the depth of the mould ot uppermoft coat of the earth, and the 
nature of the ground next immediatly under it : for let the up- 
permoft mould be never fo rich , if it have not fome depth , or fuch 
a ground juft underneath it, as will permit all fuferfluous moifture 
to defcend^ and admit alfo the hot and comfort able fleams to afcend, it 
will notbefo fertile a much leaner foil that enjoys thefe con- 
ditions. 
4. Thus have I often-tlmes feen in this County^ in all appear- 
ance a very good /oi/, and fuch indeed as would otherwife have 
been really fo , lefs fertile becaufe of its lliallownefs , and a 
cold Jiiff clay^ or c\o{t free-fi one next under-neath it, than a much 
poorer Land of fome confiderable depth, and lying over a fand 
or gravely through which all fuferfluou^ moiflure might defcend, 
and not ftand, as upon clay or Jlone^ to chill the roots and make 
the Cornlanguilli. 
5. Where by the way let it be noted, that I faid a cold ftiff 
clay or: clofe free-flone ; for if there be under a {\n\\ow mouldy a 
clay that's mixed (as 'tis common in the blew ones of this County} 
either wkhfyrites aurem^ or brafl lump ; or the ftones be of the 
warm calcariou^ kind, it may neverthelefs he fruitful in Corn, be- 
caufe thefe, I fuppofe, do warm the ground, and give fo much 
ftrength, that they largely rccompence what was wanting iii 
depth. 
6. More pofTibly might have been added to this general ac- 
count of Earths^ and not a little inftruQiive to the Farmers of the 
Country^ but I found moft of them froward and to flight my 
Qriaere's ; let them therefore thank themfelves if I am not fo ob- 
liging : Befide, it feems a bufinefs a little belide my defign^ there- 
fore 
