forward Plants and Roots for the wanton Palate; but which being corrupt in the Original, cannot but produce malignant and ill Effects to those who feed upon them.  And the same was well observ’d by the Editor of our famous Roger Bacon’s Treatise concerning the Cure of Old Age, and Preservation of Youth:  There being nothing so proper for Sallet Herbs and other Edule Plants, as the Genial and Natural Mould, impregnate, and enrich’d with well-digested Compost (when requisite) without any Mixture of Garbage, odious Carrion, and other filthy Ordure, not half consum’d and ventilated and indeed reduc’d to the next Disposition of Earth it self, as it should be; and that in Sweet, [72]Rising, Aery and moderately Perflatile Grounds; where not only Plants but Men do last, and live much longer.  Nor doubt I, but that every body would prefer Corn, and other Grain rais’d from Marle, Chalk, Lime, and other sweet Soil and Amendments, before that which is produc’d from the Dunghil only.  Beside, Experience shews, that the Rankness of Dung is frequently the Cause of Blasts and Smuttiness; as if the Lord of the Universe, by an Act of visible Providence would check us, to take heed of all unnatural Sordidness and Mixtures.  We sensibly find this Difference in Cattle and their Pasture; but most powerfully in Fowl, from such as are nourish’d with Corn, sweet and dry Food:  And as of Vegetable Meats, so of Drinks, ’tis observ’d, that the same Vine, according to the Soil, produces a Wine twice as heady as in the same, and a less forc’d Ground; and the like I believe of all other Fruit, not to determine any thing of the Peach said to be Poison in Persia; because ’tis a Vulgar Error.

Now, because among other things, nothing more betrays its unclean and spurious Birth than what is so impatiently longed after as Early Asparagus, &c. [73]Dr. Lister, (according to his communicative and obliging Nature) has taught us how to raise such as our Gardiners cover with nasty Litter, during the Winter; by rather laying of Clean and Sweet Wheat-Straw upon the Beds, super-seminating and over-strowing them thick with the Powder of bruised Oyster-Shells, &c. to produce that most tender and delicious Sallet.  In the mean while, if nothing will satisfie save what is rais’d Ex tempore, and by Miracles of Art so long before the time; let them study (like the Adepti) as did a very ingenious Gentleman whom I knew; That having some Friends of his accidentally come to Dine with him, and wanting an early Sallet, Before they sate down to Table, sowed Lettuce and some other Seeds in a certain Composition of Mould he had prepared; which within the space of two Hours, being risen near two Inches high, presented them with a delicate and tender Sallet; and this, without