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V. Tart of a Letter from Dr. Arthur Bury^ to the 
^{eVerend John Chamhcrlayne Ejq-^ F.T^S. cotu. 
cerning the Manuring of Land in Devonfhire by 
Sea-Sand. 
Compton^ Mdrch 8, 1708. 
SIR, 
I Have your obliging Letter of Febmarji 28. aceora- 
panied with the Archbifliop of Duhlirt's to. the Koyd 
Society, &c. The Burning of the Surface is fo much 
pra6tiiedin Devonfhire, that’cis elfewhere known by the 
Name of Dezwijhirwg ; but it is ufed only for bad Lands, 
and by worfe Husbands ; for it robs the Ground, as the 
Good Prelate remarks. 
Salt quickens dead Land, and is ufed in the South 
Wefl part of that Country, which would elfe be the 
barrenefl, but is now the richefl: part of it. They go as 
far as the Sea will permit them at loweft Ebb, and take 
the Sand in Bags, and carry it on Horfe-back 14 Miles 
into the Country, and fpread it upon the Land, and 
thereby improve it both tor Corn and Grafs. In other 
Parts they forc^ their Barren Land, by mingling the 
Earth with Lime, and calling it upon the Ground. 
In this they differ, that Crude and Tingle Salt, if 
Brew’d upon the Ground, does not improve, but cor- 
rode it; but Lime, tho’ unmingled, betters it : but in 
this they agree, that they produce not Grafs fit for their 
Scythe, but for failure, fhort and Tweet, and growing 
all the Winter ; fo that their Sheep know not either Hay 
or Water, nor are their iiighell Grounds parched by the 
Sun in the hottefl: Summer. This is Matter of Fail 
known 
