Of 0 XFO XD^SBl'AE^ # 
CHAP. IV. 
Of Stones. 
AS in the Chapters of Waters and Earths, I treated only of 
fuch as eminently held fome fait or fulphur^ and were 
fome way or other ufeful to Man : I intend in like man- 
ner in this of Stones ftriftly to obferve the hme method, and take 
notice only of fuch as either plainly (hew thofe Minerals^ and 
fupply the neceffities ; or are for the ornament^ or delight of Man- 
kind. 
2. How all fiones are chiefly made out of falts^ with a mixture 
of earth and fonitimes of fulphur^ was formerly hinted in ano- 
ther place. It remains only that I confider them in a more par- 
ticular manner, nnd fliew which they be, and where they are, 
that hold any of thefe principles more fignally than other, which 
I fuppofe by their effects may beft be difcover'd. 
5. In the Road from 0>ford toward London^ not far beyond 
Tetfworth^ in a hollow way on therifing of a hill, I found a fofc 
flone there-about called Maume ^ of a whitifli colour; whofe 
{alt is fo free from the bonds of lulphur^ that with the frofts and 
rain it flakes like lime : perhaps half the firing ufed to burn away 
the fulphur in other lime-flcne^ might ferve the turn here. An Ex- 
periment fo very likely to be beneficial to the Country^ that \ left 
it with the Son of the ingenious Improver, Sir Thomas 'dipping, 
as a thing not unworthy of his Fathers tryal ; but whether he 
have at all, or but unfuccefsfully made any, I have not yet had the 
favor to hear. 
4. In the way to Whitfield^ as I rod thither from Tetfworth^ I 
found the ways mended with this kinde of fione^ I fuppofe be- 
caufethey could get no other, for certainly otherwife there were 
nothing more unfit, than a ftone of fo loofe and open a [alt 
much rather with fuch Qiould they mend their Lands than High- 
ways, that like lime, marks, and chalk.-, will flake in the Winter ;' 
which 1 take for fo fure a mark of its improving quality, that I can- 
not but commend it to the tryal of the Country, 
5. And for their encouragement, let me farther tell them, that 
at a place called Hornton in the North of this County, they com- 
monly 
