HUSBANDRY Anatomized OR An Enquiry into the Present Manner of Teiling and Manuring the Ground in SCOTLAND For most Part AND Several RULES and MEASURES laid down for the better Improvement thereof in so much that one third part more INCREASE may be had and yet more than a third part of the EXPENCE of the present Way of LABOURING thereof Saved By JA DONALDSON EDINBURGH Printed by IOHN REID in the Year M. DC.XC.VII To the Right Honourable PATRICK Earl of MARCHMONT Viscount of BLASONBERIE Lord POLW ARTH Lord High Chancellour of SCOTLAND And the whole Remnant Lords of His Majesties Most Honourable Priy COUNCIL Right HONOURABLE IT may be looked upon as a Peice of heightened Arrogance for such a Person as I am to Presume to Endit any thing that may deserve your Lordships Cognizance And truly on any other Subject but this most Plain and Genuine Art of Husbandrie I had scarce adventured to publish my Sentiments and much less presumed to offer the same to such August Venerable and Judicious Criticks Who are acquainted with Learned and Eloquent Treatises on all Subjects But where there is greatest Judgement there useth to be most Discretion Which gives me Confidence and Ground to hope that what I here offer with Respect and Good Will allanarly with an Eye to the publick Good shall find Acceptance Thô from the Stile of Writing or Congruity of Language no such thing can be pleaded for Rhetorick being that which neither the Subject doth require nor my simple Genius can Aspire to Perhaps two Questions may be asked Concerning my Experience in Husbandry and Motives in publishing thereof To give a positive and distinct Answer to both will require an abridged History of my own Life which I shall with all Brevity repeat because it will be a kind Kye to the following Sheets I was bred in the Country Till I was upwards of twenty years of Age And my Father keeping Servants and Cattle for labouring a part of these Lands which heritably belonged to him I had occasion to acquire as much Knowledge in Husband Affairs as was practised in that place of the Country Some few years before the Revolution I applyed my self to the study of Traffick and Merchandizing But as soon as it pleased GOD to call his Majestie then Prince of Orange to relieve these Kingdoms from the Imminent Danger They then stood in I judged it my Honour and Duty to concur with such a Laudible and Glorious Undertaking And according to my Ability testified my Affection to the Cause several wayes needless here to repeat And especially in Leavying a Company of Men for his Majesties Service and served in the Earl of Angus his Regiment till the second day of February 1690. When that Regiment was reduced from twenty to thirteen Companies I was disbanded But through the scarcity of Money in the Exchequer and great need of keeping an Army on foot Hitherto I have received no Reimbursement of Money I Depursed on that Occasion nor what I can claim of Arriers But the chief Cause of my being reduced to the present hard Condition I am in was The leaving my Business in Confusion when I engadged in His Majesties Service not getting Goods in my Custodie disposed off to Advantage nor Debts due to me sought in And on the other hand my Creditors sued for what was owing them I was obliged to satisfie and pay several other Summs I was Caution for to my great loss By all which and several other misfortunat Accidents my Credit was much broken and Estate near exhausted Notwithstanding of all which I wrasled under all these Disadvantages still thinking to have recovered till within this two or three years At length I was obliged to succumb my Creditors attacking all my Effects I was necessitat to leave the Kingdom for a time and now returning empty handed I began to Reason thus with my self What Have I learned nothing from all that I have seen or heard whereby I can be Useful to my self or the Common-Wealth And at length came to this Resolve I have had some Experience of the Way and Manner of Labuoring the Ground in this Countrey And I have seen their Way of mannaging thereof in some other Places which is generally done to greater Advantage And when I began to try what might be the Causes why there is such difference of Increase in one place more than another I found it is not altogether from the difference of the Climate nor Primitive Constitution of the Earth And as soon as I thought of publishing this I thought it my Duty with all Humility to present it to your Lordships in respect you are not only Proprietors of a great part of Lands in this Kingdom but also in Authority and Dignity to recommend this Project both by Example and Precept And if it may seem practicable in your Lordships Eyes and any Benefit to the Publick come thereby I shall reckon it a special Mercy of GOD who by his Overruling Providence oft times worketh by contrary like Means that I am reduced to this penurious Condition For if it had pleased GOD to continue me in prosperity I beleive this Project had never entred my thoughts I am not so self conceited as to apprehend there is any great Mistery in what I have here published for it is a thing many have not only known but practised But never any that I yet saw hath published it in thir Terms for as I noted in page 125 the grand mistake lyeth in Mis-calculation And I foresaw if I had used the common Method of writing on this Subject it had been objected the Profit would not overballance the Expence For which Cause I have chused to go thorow every Particular and shew how and from whence the profit doth arise I know Epistols Dedicatory are usually stuffed with the Praises of those to whom they are directed But the like Practise were here supperfluous tho I were capable of such a Task as the Poet who was desired to write in praise of Alexander answered Who hath dispraised Alexander So I think my dull Pen attempting to applaud Unquestioned Vertue were not only Vain but Injurious Wherefore I judge it my best Eloquence to be altogether silent and let your Enemies judge whither Real Vertue doth not dwell in the Breasts of these whom Divine Providence hath exalted to such Dignity And the most Serene August and Judicious Monarch this Day in the World maketh choise of for His Counsellours But to avoid Prolixity and encroaching upon your Lordship's Patience I shall conclude Now that all Honour Prosperity and Endless Felicity may alwayes attend You is the Earnest Wish and Unfeigned Prayer of Your LORDSHIPS most Humble and Obedient Servant Ja Donaldson ERRATA Page 8 Line 8 for Vigitables read Vegetables and several other Places Page 25 Line 12 for only and read only add Page 107 Line 1 for 5 read 4 ibid Line 3 for 200 read 1600. Page 108 Line 10 for 4907 read
is rather to remove the Maladie than enquire any farther after the Cause I shall therefore proceed to lay down several Rules whereby to bring each of these different kinds of Ground to such a temperature as it may be in a condition to nourish any Plant or Seed therein sowen or planted which is done by removing the superfluity of that quality that prevaileth and strengthening of that which is weak For as in humane bodys there are a Composition of the four Elements and through the superfluity or deficiency of any one or more of them Diseases are contracted and fomented so in the Earth there is the like Composition of qualities and so far as heat Moister cold or dryness exceedeth the bounds of a moderat temperatur so far is she Diseased and rendred unfruitful I know some assert the Salt or hot quality that is in the Earth is the only cause of growth of Vigitables And consequently barreness to be only for want of this quality I confess where this quality is wanting altogether Barrenness cannot but ensue And also that this quality is that which is most frequently deficient in our cold Climate And moreover thô it be strengthned or assisted yet by teiling and Manuring of the Earth it s extracted forth into the substance of grain and other vigitables and so needeth frequently to be renewed Notwithstanding of all which with submission to men of greater Judgement I am of opinion there may be abundance of this Hot or Salt quality where there is as much barrenness as any where else But that I may confirm this assertion I say I have seen a field fatned sufficiently with Dung yet by reason of great drowght it has yielded small increase yea scarce one third of what it has done at other times The cause surely was not for want of this Hot or Salt Quality but allanerly for want of Moister Again I have seen a field that wanted not â—nough of this Hot quality by excessive Rains after it has been tiled and sown with Good Grain has produced little else but weeds and Thristles for that season also I have seen strong Clay ground where the clods remained firm and unbroken did not produce so much by far for that Season as at other times when by reason of the Frost in the Winter the clods have easily Mouldred to pieces Notwithstanding it was otherwayes in no better Condition which makes me believe the want of Air tho there be a moderat temperature of the other qualities hinders the growth of Vigitables for tho it want not Air in the stalk which is above ground yet in this confirmed Earth the Air cannot have free access to thâ— Root Another thing which confirms me in this opinion is where Trees grow closs or near the Bottom of hedges little or nothing doth grow Morover I have seen in the Bottom of a dung hill Plewed and sown tho round about the borders thereof the corn has been extraordiner strong and good yet where most of the strength of dung did remain little or nothing did grow which says the excesse of this hot quality tho there be a moderat temperature of all the rest doth hinder fruitfulness I observed formerly that within the bounds of a mile of ground in some places there may be seen fields in equal circumstances as to the manner of Situation and yet differing in other circumstances very much for which I can understand no cause save the primative constitution but for Valys being generally more fertile then hills I humbly conceive one or all of these reasons may be given First The internal heat of the earth warming the Air next unto it and in respect the hills are farder extended from the center than the Valys and bâ—ing so much higher where the Air is more pure and less warmed by this internal heat they are so much colder and consequently more unfruitfull Or secondly If it be said it is not the internal heat of the Earth that warmeth the Air but rather the reflex heat of the Sun Beams it is the same thing upon the Matter for whither the heat be from the Earth it self or the Sun's heat reâ—â—yling still the Valys have the advantage of the Mountains in respect the Air that is lowest receiveth the greatest share thereof 3. So much as the hills are higher than the Valys they ly the more open to the Air which has a quicker motion the higher it is and Air moved is much colder than when it is not moved whither it be in that it is warmed by things nixt to it when it standeth still and when it is moved fresh Air still approaching which has not been warmed be the cause why the one is warmer then the other I shall not determin But the matter of Fact is beyond contraversy that the Air moved is much colder than when it is not moved and Valys being much sheltered from the violence of Storms are keep'd so much the warmer and consequently are the more Fertile Moreover hills being steep the Rain runneth presently off so soon as it falleth and doth not only carry that salt or hot Quality that is in it self away But if the Ground be not well Soarded carryeth part of the Earth also away with it self And on the contraâ—e Valys lying near level Rain cannot run suddenly off but getting time to soak or sink in the Ground the salt Quality remaineth still whereby the Earth is much Inriched By the above mentioned Observations you may see it is Heat principally that makes the Valys more fertile than the Hills It follows â—hat if other Ground can be warmed to the like degree it may thereby be made as fertile I shall therefore in the following Chapters give some Directions how this may be performed which may be done two wayes First By assisting the Internal Hâ—at Next By restraining the External Cold of each in their places CHAP. II. How to bring every kind of Ground to a right Temperature so far as may be NOw to follow the Example of a skilfull Physitian after finding out the Disease he prescriveth Medicines sutable to be applyed to each various Distemper so shall we after this search and enquirie into the Nature and constitution of these different kinds of ground above mentioned See next what measures are to be taken to bring the same to a moderat temperature And as the Apostle says in another case Paul may Plant and Apollo may Water But 't is GOD that giveth the Increase So let men be never so industrious or carefull about their worldly Affairs yet if GOD give not a blessing to the means their labour is in vain For how often is it seen that after a hopeful Spring an unseasonable Summer maketh a scarce Harvest and after a seasonable Summer good appearence of a plentiful harvest by intemperat weather a few weeks much of the fruits of the Earth have been consumâ—d I am not so much an Astrologer as to impute the cause of this to
7907. As for any other Literal Errors incident to creep into all Books throw mistake be pleased to correct them your selves And if it were proper here to make an Appologie for my self I might plead the more to be excused in respect I have been so hastened to have this finished before the Session sate down and other Reasons needless here to repeat that before I wrote the second Sheet the first was at the Press and never after had I one Sheet of Coppy ready at once the whole time it was a printing THE PREFACE to the READER NEighbours and Country men this small Treatise may seem to bear a Title which in the following Sheets cannot be made good I confess before I took a particular look into every Circumstance of this Project I could scarce beleive such a thing could be But after peruseâ— let the Iudicious Reader Iudge how far I have accomplished my Undertaking I know it is seldom that any new Project is much encouraged by most of you and he that proposeth it reputed a Wise Man However I have rather chosen to hazard upon the Censure of all than conceal that which may be profitable to any And seing the chief mistery of this Project consists in your Prudent and Exact Calculation as I remarked in my Answer to the 2 d. Objection wherefore I yet once more Recomend it in this and all other Cases I doubt not but some may cast it in my Teeth since I am so good at Teaching others how to improve their Stocks How cometh it to pass that I have been so far mistaken in forecasting of my own Affairs To which I Answer Perhaps I may now be a better Gamester than formerly while my Carts were a playing Moreover it was not altogether my want of Skill in Calculating that made my Projects to misgive But grant it to be as ye suppose it doth not follow but my Advice may be both Profitable and Reasonable A Mariner that hath suffered Ship-wrack may be as good a Pilote in that same Channel where he lost his Ship as another that has come that same Way with a Prosperous Gale and Full-Sea sailing over the hide Rocks and dangerous Banks If you think my Advice Reasonable take it Gratis and welcome If not buy Experience at th Rate I have done HUSBANDRY Anatomized OR An Enquiry into the present manner of Manuring the Ground in Scotland for most part and several Rules and Measures laid down for the better Improvement thereof c. WHEN Almighty GOD Created the World by the Word of his Power He could have made Men to live without Food as well as Angels Or yet have made the Earth to bring forth all manner of Food for him without Labour or Industry as it doth for Caâ—â—le and creeping things But so it was that He that is Infinit in Wisdom saw it meet to assign Man a dayly exercise in earning his Food and Rayment whereby he is not only diverted from following some bad Practice But also that thereby he may see his great frailty in that he is not able to live without dayly Subsistance and Refreshment from Creatures inferiour to himself As also he thereby may learn to know his great need of Spiritual Nourishment to his Soul in as much as it is more precious than the Body together with many other profitable Lessons No doubt if Man had continued in the Estate of Innocencie his Labour had been rather a Pleasure than a Toyle as may be gathered from the Sentence pronounced against Adam where it 's said From thenceforth by the Sweat of his Brows he should Earn his Bread untill he should return unto the Dust 'T is plain enough it had not fated so with him were not for his Transgression And upon Cain's Transgression the Earth is again Cursed that thenceforth it should not yeeld its strength What wonder thô before this time it had become a barren Wilderness considering the dayly multiplyed Transgressions of the Children of Men But this being extraneous to my purpose and that which I am not capable to decipher I shall remit it to the Contemplation of Divines But that I may come to the purpose I shall first take some general Observations concerning the present Constitution of the Earth 2. Lay down certain Rules for bringing every kind of Ground to a right Temperature so far as may be 3 An Enquirie into the present manner of manuring the Ground through most part of this Kingdom 4 Lay down several Rules for manuring it to greater advantadge tho not inclosed 5 How much more by Parking and Inclosures 6. Concerning Stock-keeping 7. Something concerning Planting 8. Some directions how to sow several Garden Seeds and Roots And lastly I shall enervat what Objections I conceive may be framed against any of my propositions CHAP. I. Of the Earth's Constitution in general ANd first I say notwithstanding that Proverb is of verity There is never a Tale without a Reason That is there is no Effect but from some certain Cause yet 't is as true there may be many things really true in Effect that we do not well know from what Cause And seing I am neither Philosopher nor Alchymist I hope the moderat Reader will not altogether disprove or misregard my propositions where the matter of fact is evident altho I cannot give a Philosophical definition of the Cause Nevertheless that I may not desire the Reader to credit my bare Assertion without any ground I shall in some measure endeavour according to my weak capacity to give him satisfaction in this point And first I say it cannot be denyed but some places of the Earth are Moist and Cold and other places Hot and dry The cause of which differences some aleadge to be by the influence of the Planets and other Coelestial Bodys by which also they make all Minerals to be Engendered I shall not say but there maybe much truth in this for in these Climates lying nearest the Equinoctial geting a larger share of the Sun's heat are generally more fertile providing it be not scorching than other places more remote as I shall afterward show Neither shall I altogether deny but other Planets may also have some influence Notwithstanding of all which I cannot be perswaded through influence of the Planets there can be with in the bounds of a mile of ground or perhaps less one field hot and sandy Another cold clay ground A third Marish and Boggie A fourth dry Heath ground A fifth a tollerable mixture of all these c. Now seing these differences cannot be from the forementioned Cause it must be from its primitive Constitution or I shall not dive any farther into it To enquire any more after the Cause of this is like a person coming where there is a house on fire and in stead of endeavouring to quench the Flame calleth out How did the Fire break out How was the House kendled The thing required in this case seing the Effect is unqustionable
I leave them to calculat their year themselves Or had the Sun's motion been also slow as Saturn's or other of the Superior Planets then these places receiving his visit had been scorched by his long continuance in one place and other places continuing long in extream cold during his absence could not but frize before his return For it is beyond Contraversie if the Sun did continue any considerable time in one place things about him would be much more warmed than they are by his transient Visit. As for Instance Let a person take a Shovel full of fire and carry round about all the borders of a Room every particular place will not be so much warmed thereby as one place is when it doth remain any considerable space there Much on this Subject might be said which surpasseth the Eloquence of the ablest Oratour or Pen of best accomplished Clark Wherefore I shall return to what I was speaking of before You see Heat is one principal cause of growth of Grain and other things the Earth bringeth forth And seing Providence has aloted us to live in this cold Climate we must by Art endeavour to help that wherein Nature is defective as is said Which is done two wayes viz First by restraining external Cold and next by strenthening or assisting the internal Heat that is in the Earth The way to restrain external Cold is in a special manner by Planting and Hedging of which I shall speak more particularly when I come to treat of Planting But in the mean time that I may confirm my Assertion that restraining of external cold is no small Encouragement to growth of Corn and Grass c Besides the Reasons given for it in the first Chapter I shall tell what from Experience I have seen and what any person to their conviction may readily observe in any place where the Earth is sheltered from the violence of Storm As for Instance what Orchyeard Gairden c being inclosed under the shelter of Trees or any thing else that defends them from Wind and Storm But it is more Fertile than other Ground equal with it in every Circumstance this only excepted Again I have seen where the Wind had passage but only through the gape of a Hedge or Stone-wall the Ground there in the same very bit and no where else near it has been visibly a great dale more barren than the rest of the same Land And on the other hand where there has been a Bush or any other insignificant shelter tho the rest of the Ground about it has been barren Grass or any other thing growing under the lie of it has been tollerable good and rank Instances to confirm this were infinit wherefore I must conclude to restrain external Cold must be no small Encouragement for growth of Corn and Grass c. Having spoken of manuring or dunging the Ground in Chapter second and given a hint of what kind of Dung or Manure was fit for every several kind of Ground I shall not now resume what was there said only I would recommend this as an Universal Rule to apply that kind of Manure to every kind of Earth that has most of the Quality in it that the Ground whereon it is â—aid has least of viz hot Manure on cold Ground and cold Manure on Hot Ground But least some may be ignorant what kind of Dung or Manure is Hot or what is Cold know Cow or Ox Dung is the coldest of any I know and Horses Dung is more hot but Sheep Dung is hoter than either Lyme Ashes and Pigions Dung are also very hot either of them may be applyed alone or mixed as I shall afterward show But because I spoke of Marle and perhaps every one knows not what it is nor how to find it take Mr. Markem's Definition of it in his own Words Marle you shall understand is according to the Definition of Mr. Bernard Pullisly a natural and yet an excellent Sorb being an enemy to all the Weeds that spring up of themselves and giving a generative Vertue to all Seeds that are sowen upon the Ground Or for the plain Husband Man's Understanding it is a certain rich Stuff and rough Clay of a glewie Substance and not Fat or Oylie as some suppose this Marle is cold in Quality and not Hot as some would have it and it was Earth before it came to be Marle and being made Marle yet it is but a Clay Ground all Chalk whatsoever was Marle before it was Chalk And all manner of Stones which are subject unto Calcination or burning as Lymestone Flint and the like were first Marle before they were stones only hardened by accident and so not possible to be disolved but by fire As for Marle it self when it is a little hardened is only disolved by Frost and nothing else And thence the Cause is that Marle ever worketh better Effect the second year than the first This Marle hath been made so precious by some Writers that it has been accounted a fifth Element but of this Curiosity I will not now dispute Touching the Complexions and Collours of Marle there is some difference for tho all conclude there are four several Collours in Marle Yet one sayeth there is a White a Gray or Russet a Black and Yellow Another sayeth there is a Red and White mixed like unto Porphery And all these may well be reconceilled and Collours may alter according to the Climate and Strength of the Sun so that by these Characters the Collour the Roughness and the Loosness when it is dryed any Man of Judgement may know Marle from any other Earth whatsoever This Marle is so Rich of it self and so Excellent for Continuance that it will Maintain and Inrich barren Ground the worst ten or twelve and some for thirty years This Marle is commonly found in the lowest parts of High Countreys near Laiks and small Brooks and in the high part of low Countreys upon Knowls or small Hills or within the Clifts of high Mountainous Banks which bound great Rivers in To conclude You will seldom find barren Sandy Grounds but what are verged about with Marle sometimes it is found within two or three foot to the Surface of the Earâ—h and sometimes ten or twelve It is worth the searching after and boring of suspected places for it may be worth your pains Having given you this short hint of Markem's Opinion of Marle and how to know it I shall proceed to what I proposed To wit To give some Directions how to make some further Improvement of the Ground than what I have showen in the preceeding Chapter And as I said seeing Nature hath casten our Lot in this cold Climate we must by Art endeavour to supply that want the best way we can which beside the warding off Storm and Winds applying all or any of the forementioned kinds of Manure doth also warm or heat the Earth so that it doth bring forth Grain c. without any Fence at
other Forraign Nation and therefore likely to be the less noticed what farther concerns these Questions satisfie your self with the acount given in the Epistle Dedicatory What you or your Fathers have been bred to or what Misterys they might have found I question not neither prâ—tend I to any great Measure of Wit But grant that what I advise to were new as it is not for many in this same Kingdom and the greatest part of all others I either have seen or heard of have found the Truth of what I say to their Experience and if you will make Wit and Reason yeeld to Will and Custom I have no more to say brook your Opinion Object 2. Some more grave person I fancy asketh me what may be the Reasons For ye know there is never a Tale without a Reason why this Method I advise to is so universally contemned in this Kingdom if such Benefit as I pretend may be had by following of it Solve So farr as I can understand the Causes are all or either of these three the Maladies of two of them your Landlords may remove and if you take my advise the third you may remove your selves First When a Tenent makes any Improvement of his Ground the Landlord obligeth him either to augment his Rent or remove in so much that its become a Proverb and I think none more true Bouch and Sit Improve and Flit I doubt not but if Fermers had good Security for continuing in possession of their Lands buâ— they might thereby be much Encouraged to improve them Another Cause why Fermers make so little Improvement of Lands in their Possession is Poverty that great enemy to vertue for people that are empty handed are glad to accept any thing that first offers rather than waiâ— for future great things Landlords might also give their Tenents Encouragement in this Case by spairing the Rent for a time But the principal or chief Cause is peoples want of Skill to calculat or forecast the Ordering of their Matters most people thinking it better to take a scant Crop of Corn than leave their Land Grass not considering that by leaving a part of their Land in Grass the rest that is manured geteth the greater allowance of Dung whereby it is Enriched And that part leâ—t in Grass is also thereby brought to a more fertile Condition It is needless here to insist on this point having spent whole three Chapters already in shewing how I would have Fermers divide their Lands and take only so much into manure as they are able sufficiently to keep in a good Condition The two Parables our Saviour adduceth concerning a King's making War And other Men's going about to build That they ought to forecast the Charge and how they may be able to accomplish their Undertakings I say tho that Text is chiefly to be taken in a Spiritual Sense yet may it be taken in a Literal Sense also For when a Man undertaketh any Business whatsoever that is above his power to accomplish ten to one but his project doth miscarrie And I think Aristotle spoke Truth when he said He that is ignorant of Arithmetick is fit for no Science which was also the Opinion of Plato when he affixed this Inscription over his School-door Let none enter in hither that is ignorant of Geomitry When there is so much of it needed in the right Management of Husband Labour as you may see in Chapter 3 4 and 5. which is of all Employments the most plain and natural How much more is it requisite in other Sciences and Employments Object 3. But tho the Method you propose should be followed yet no such profit will come thereby as you would make us believe For in your Calculation Chapter third you reckon all things at a disadvantage in your first Example and all things to the Advantage in the second Solve The contrare is true for according to the division of Croft and Out-fâ—â—ld in the third Chapter I make the Land taken into Croft gâ—t more than double allowance of Dung which the other had and the differrence of product is only three Bolls which I doubt nothing of but it may be more Nevertheless admit there be but two Bolls of difference that is to say allow the Croft according to the first way of manuring to produce five Bolls per Aiker the odds will be greater than I reckoned it at when you defaulk the 150 pounds I pay more Rent for the last Mailen and beside there was six Bolls of Seed and four of Horse Corn saved which was not reckoned in that Account and why the Out-field in the latter Case may bear one Boll more per Aikeâ— than the first I suppose satisfying Reasons were given already As for the profit on the Cattle I think none can doubt of it Ob 4. Your Hedging and way oâ— Manuring recommended Chap 4 th is so difficult that the Charge will exceed the profit Moreover the Hedges will not grow on any Barren Ground Solve The Expence and Profit are both there reckoned and the contâ—aiâ— doth appear As for Hedges growing I have shewed already that any kind of Ground by Industry may be made fertile However â—or your more particular Information concerning planting of Hedges I say digg a ditch on every side of your Hedge or at least one on the out-side thereof Take the crust of the Earth you digg out of your ditches and lay next to the root of your Hedge and if the Ground be very Barren or cold mix dung therewith for as I observed when I spoke concerning planting when the roots of Trees are fixed in cold Tile or Clay tho the Tree it self may be nourished by Dew and Rain without extracting any Strength forth of the Earth as I have seen a Tree growing out of a Wall which had no other kind of Nourishment but what it received from Dew and Rain doth in a manner frize or as it is vulgarly termed Dozz'ns the Root so that it cannot thrive But when a Tree is planted in Ground that is any thing warm as the Surface or Crust of the Earth in all places is for it is warmed by the Sun's Beams and Salt it receiveth in Dew and Rain And your Hedge being therein planted as is shewed above And then to preserve your Hedge while it is young let your Fields about them be Corn so Beasts will have no access to them in Summer And in Winter Cattle seeing nothing to tempt â—hem to break into your inclosed Fields the Hedge and the ditch it self will be sufficient to restrain them Object 5. But you speak of Hedges keeping the Ground warm Pray What shelter hath the Ground by your Hedge except a Rigg or wo lying next to it Solve You may remember I also recommended planting of Trees in your Hedges which will also ward off the Storm But even the Hedges themselves if any thing tall will shelter more than the breadth of a dozen of Riggs of Ground And if