The 3\(atural Biflorj * 
and therefore by Naturalifts called Dryites : it was taken up in 
great quantities too, and out of fome of the pieces, (whereof 
1 have one) it may be plainly feen where ivrigs have come forth, 
the knots ftill remaining where they were cut off; fo that unlefs 
we fly to the fjwrts of Nature^ and allow her to imitate almoft all 
things in ftone, we cannot well avoid a confent, that this was 
fomtime really ^Too^. It was cafually dug up in the Parifti of 
Wendkhurj^ in a gravelly ground not far from the Church, and 
is, 1 believe, the fame Earth mentioned fo good for this purpofe 
in our Philofofhkal Tranfa^ions"^^ 
46. Thus having confidered the principal Earths ufed in Euf- 
handry , Tainting^ Medicine^ i^^c. I proceed in the next place to 
treat of fome others, lefs in value, and put to infcri6r ufes : A- 
mongft which we may reckon the very uppermoft Turf ; which 
hdidt^oi Bowling-greens, and Grafs-xvalks \n Gardens, is here 
not unfrequently ufed by Thatchers^ and laid on Mud-mlls^ and 
the tcp of Houfes, in the place and manner of thofc wc call 
Ridge-tiles ; not that it is fo good as Thatching (though fome fay 
it better refills the winds) but becaufe in fome places Wood is fo 
fcarce, that they cannot get /^r^ie:? to faften on Thatch; or elfe 
the people fo poor that they care not to buy them. 
42. Alfo at fome other places for want of Wood^ they make 
ufe of another fort of Turf for fewel , not the upper Green^ 
fwordj but an inferior ftringy bituminous Earthy cut out like Brickji 
for the moft part from moorifli boggy grounds ; in fome Coun- 
tries called Peat-pits^ in oi\\trs Mofesi The beft of this Turf that 
I have feen in Oxford-Jhire, I met with at Mr. Warcup in the Parifli 
of North -Moor^ but dug as I was informed in St ant on -Ear courts 
about a mile diftance S. Weft from the Church: it lies but one 
fpits depth within the ground, and is fuppofed to be at leaft 
four foot thick : They cut it in March^ and lay the pieces called 
Feats to dry on the grafs, fomtim.es turning them ; which when 
reafonably well done, they then pile up like Wheehrights felleys, 
leaving every where empty fpaces between,that the Air and Wind 
paffing through them, they at length may become dry enough for 
the fire. They think that the ftringy roots^ that together with 
the Bitumen^ make up the Peats^ do never flourifh above the fur- 
face : if fo, I am fomthing confirmed in an opinion, thatthe re are 
many 
