But we may remark moreover, that the Vallies, even in the Inland Counties, are not fo much over-ruled by Frofts, as the Hills. I remember about Two Years ago, as I was travelling to Oxford in December, I found a fevere Froft and Snow upon Stoken-Church Hill, but in the Bottom there was very little Sign of hard Weather; and about the City of Oxford the Ground was fo open, that fome People were then removing Trees. I could produce many more Inftances of the like Nature, would they not take up too much room in this Place; however, you may be certain of this, that all Plants which are of the under Race, and are ufually fown or planted in the Winter, are much more fafe from Injury of Weather in the Vallies and Low Grounds than on the Hills.

The Apennine Hills, which feem to rival the Alps in their Height, are not indeed without their valuable Produce; even on their North Side, they bring a fort of Wheat and Rye, which the People thereabouts fow in March, and affords them plentiful Crops: But I fuppofe thefe kinds of Grain would not ftand in the Winter in that cold Situation. However, that we may try what can be done in England with this Corn, I have communicated fome of each fort to feveral curious Gentlemen in the most hilly Countries in England to make Trials with, but have not yet heard what Success they have had: Nevertheless, I am of Opinion, they will not be disappointed; efpecially, because the Farmers about this fide of the Apennines have very little Opportunity of affifting their Ground with Dung, or indeed any other Manure, unless by mixing one Soil with another.

The

The curious Mr. Laurence, to whom we have been oblig❜d for fome very inftructive Pieces relating to Gardening, has put us upon the Ufe of untry'd Earth, to help fuch Lands as have been worn out. And upon the foot of his excellent Experiments in that Way, I have chofen to mix the light Soils with the ftiff ones; fuppofing, that the fandy Soils will open the Parts of the ftronger Lands, and that Clays or fuch as are clofe, and the Country Farmers call fat Land, will help to nourish and enrich the Sand, which of it felf is too light to hold fufficient Moisture for the fupport of Vegetation, or the growth of Plants. In the Land you have chofen, you have fortunately a Bed of Marle to enrich the Sands, either on your Hills or low Grounds. But this need only be used in cafe you defign to proceed in the common Way, to turn up your Land for Corn, or fuch like: For even the Ground, which is now Heath on the Hills, may be render'd advantagious, by burning and ploughing it a fufficient Depth, and adapting thofe Plants to it which Nature at firft defign'd for fandy Land. For 'tis certain, there is not in Nature any kind of Soil, which has not its proper Plant to grow in it, as appointed by the first great Author of all Things.

The Plants which I find will profper upon Sand of this kind, (i. e.) the Black fort, which is your upper Stratum, are Firs, Pines and Pinafters of all forts; but the white Sand underneath to be mixed with it, will be of good use for Afh and Hazle, which yet will thrive much better if they are fown upon the Spot, than to be transplanted. For whatever Tree is taken out of the Ground, and removed to fuch light

Land as yours is, must be conftantly water'd to keep it alive, and the Expence will be more than it will be worth in many Years; befides, a fresh Plantation of fuch Trees as would be neceffary for you to put into a Wood, would run away with a good Sum for Props or Stakes to fupport them, and after all, a feedling Nursery would be certain to keep it felf, without Hazard, and in gradual Time reward your Patience with fure Profit; but a more particular Direction for the forming fuch a Plantation, I fhall give on fome other Occasion. In the mean Time, I cannot help recommending, even on the Sides of fuch Hills, the fowing of the fmalleft, or as fome call 'em, the shortest dwarf Pease, which may be put in the Ground the beginning of April, and when they happen to lie expos'd to the South Sun, I have known 'em bring good Plenty of Fruit; but they are at present fo fcarce that I do not know any Seedsman that has them to dispose of in great Quantities, but Mr. Watts at Kenfington. I rather chufe this Pea than any other, because it takes up very little Room, and yet will bring as many Pods as the larger Kinds; and befides it agrees with this light Soil, requiring much lefs Nourishment than the other Kinds, which run too much into Haulm.

When this Crop comes off, the fame Ground, without Amendment, will bring excellent Turneps, much sweeter than those which grow in a heavier Land.

Liquorifh is likewife a very profitable Crop in Ground of this fandy Nature; but in the lower Grounds, Hops will turn to extraordinary Advantage, if they are well manag'd, as they are about Farnham, where the Soil is chief

ly

ly of a black fandy Kind; but in Time I shall fend you a particular Account of the Methods us'd in the Hop Grounds both in Hampshire and Kent, which are the most famous Countries in the World for the Production of that valuable Commodity.

In Ground of this Nature, you might fet apart fome of the Mountainous for a Warren, altho fome Men might object that the Rabbets would deftroy the tender, or even the grown Crops in the lower Ground; but I am well affur'd that where thofe Animals can meet with fuch juicy and fucculent Herbs, as are frequent enough in low Grounds, they will rather do the Office of Weeders, than Destroyers; their Profit will very well recompenfe the Lofs that can be fuftain'd even by their breaking into Corn Ground, as I fhall endeavour to prove from fome Warren Accounts, which I defign to publish. In the mean while we may be affur'd, fandy Hills', which lie dry without Springs, afford us the best tafted Rabbets, free from Diftempers; and an Acre of fuch Ground will maintain and yield us more in Number, annually, than near double the Quantity of low Ground, where Rabbets are for the most Part over-fed, gain unwholefome rank Flesh, and are subject to be destroy'd by the Rot: For 'tis with these Creatures as with Sheep, fuch as have the Opportunity of feeding in rich Pasture, and grow large and fat, are never fo fweet in their Flefh as the fmallest Sort, which feed upon Downs where the Bite is fhort. Some, indeed, tell us that the agreeable Flavour of the Down Mutton is owing to the wild Thyme, which thofe Creatures eat in great Quantity on those high Lands; but I am of Opinion this is a Miftake, for I have often

offer'd

offer'd that Herb to Sheep, and they as conftantly refus'd it.

I remember once, obferving to a Farmer about Salisbury Plain, how much the Ground there might be improv'd by Tillage and Plantations, he told me very gravely, that as long as the Ground would bear Sheep, it yielded its full Value; and that the Change I would promote would be expenfive and precarious; befides, fays he, we have now immediate Profit either from Wool, Lambs, or full grown Sheep, which brings us ready Money every Day; and, as he obferv'd, employ'd the Poor of several Countries thereabouts. This, without doubt, must be allowed; but it is apparent from many Inftances that Part of the Land there might yet be improv'd, as I endeavour to direct; for whatever Parts were lay'd up for Corn, might yield that Crop, and yet furnish some Provender for the Sheep, in the Winter, to fave Hay, fuch as Turneps, &c. and an Acre then would be equal to the Expence of as much Hay as would grow upon four Acres; but I find lately fome Gentlemen about Salisbury have come into my Method; they have began to turn up Land for Corn, Pease, Turneps, and fuch like, and have difpofed fome Grounds for Timber and Firing, both which are much wanted about that City, but the latter especially is fo fcarce, that fome of the Inhabitants have told me, their Wood, for Firing, was brought from Places Eight Miles diftant:

If there may arife fome Doubts concerning what I have faid before of hilly Ground, where I have made it to yield only one half Part as much Profit, with Regard to Vegetables and Buildings, as the plain Land; let us stock the