Feudigraphia The synopsis or epitome of surueying methodized. Anatomizing the whole corps of the facultie; viz. The materiall, mathematicall, mechanicall and legall parts, intimating all the incidents to fees and possessions, and whatsoeuer may be comprized vnder their matter, forme, proprietie, and valuation. Very pertinent to be perused of all those, whom the right, reuenewe, estimation, farming, occupation, manurance, subduing, preparing and imploying of arable, medow, pasture, and all other plots doe concerne. And no lesse remarkable for all vnder-takers in the plantation of Ireland or Virginia ... Composed in a compendious digest by W. Folkingham. G.

CHAP. VIII.

FErtilage consists in the enriching of the Soyle,* 1.1 and the Rectifying of the Production. And in pursuite of this practise, diligent consideration must be had of the variation of the Plot, from the due Habitude of a rich and battle ground; to the like and equall condition, whereof, it must be endeuoured by appropriate meanes to reduce the same, or at least to correct and qualifie the vndue Habitude in the eminentest exorbitance.

And it shall not bee amisse to particularize the Na∣tures and qualities both of good and badde soyles, to the end their distinctions may be facilized.

The Nature and goodnesse of ground is diuers waies be-tout and manifested; as by the mixture, temperature,* 1.2 colour, compacture, touch, weight, taste, smell, &c. to∣gether with the voluntarie Production and Repletion of the Plot.

Such a diffused mixture of Clay and Sande,* 1.3 moy∣sture and dryeth, heat and cold as confounds their distin∣ctions of deriuing appellation, from the eminent pre∣dominance of any particular qualitie inherent in the soyle, carries a generall approouement of goodnesse.

Virgill infers the best layer for Tillage to be an Earth which is blackish and darke, not too compact,* 1.4 of a déepe crust, viz. fat vnder the share, though it goe a déep pitch, well putrified and resolued, &c.

Nigra fere & presso pinguis sub vomere terra Optima frumentis &c.

And Mancinellus saith, it must bee neither moyst nor drie, waxing black after the plow, easie to be tilled, and where Rooks runne fluttering after the share at the ve∣rie

héeles of the holder, and that not of ranke, but mode∣rate fruitfulnesse, with which the deprecation of the Poet, doth not vnfitly concurre, where he shewes that moist layers, are knowne by ranke and aboundant grasse.

Humida maiores herbas alit, ipsa{que} iusto Laetior: ah nimium ne sit mihi fertilis illa, Neu se praeualidam primis ostentat aristis.

But notwithstanding the preheminence giuen to the blacke and darke colour,* 1.5 some are induced to preferre the red layer, and so much the rather for that Adam (who was immediatly created of Earth) importeth Earth of a redde or ruddy colour: And experience also giues in∣stance of diuers such soyles (though not so frequent to confirme euerie man in the same opinion) of wondrous worth and fertilitie, amongst which the Territories of the Towne of Armagh in Ireland, are famoused for la∣sting and perpetuall battlenes, as hauing time out of minde, as appeares partly by their vaste dung-hils, pe∣stering both yards and stréets, without any kinde of ma∣nuring, yéelded plentifull increase of grasse and graine, howsoeuer the Natiues attribute this continuing rich∣nesse of the soyle to the speciall benediction of their Sain∣ted Patron Saint Patricke.

* 1.6Some let not to conclude in commendation of the Soile vpon the bare experiment laid downe by Virgil for distinguishing betwéene open and rare soyles, and such as are condense & close, where he wils to sinke a pit in some solid place, and to take out, and breake the earth, and after to tread it in againe, and if it swell aboue the former height, they iudge it rich according to the propor∣tion of the supereminence, if it prooue euen and flat, they estéeme it meane, if it settle vnder, in••ertile. But the Poet commends that which is rare, and not condense, for producing of grasse and plants fit for broouage, and browsage of shéepe, and for Vines; and that which by

filling the Fosse appeares to bee compact and dense, hee intimates to yéeld large and tough furrowes, and desti∣nates it to Tillage.

Rara sit, an supra morem sit densa requiras, Altera frumentis quoniam fauet, altera Baccho, Densa magis Cereri, rarissima quae{que} Lyaeo; Antè locum capies oculis, alte{que} iubebis In solido puteum demitti, omnem{que} repones Rursus humū, & pedibus summas aequabis arenas: Si deerunt, rarum; pecori{que} & vitibus almis Aptius vber erit: sin in sua posse negabunt Ire loca, & scrobibus superabit terra repletis Spissus ager; glebas cunctanteis crassa{que} terga Expecta, & validis terram proscinde Iuuencis.

And the fat soyle he saith, dissolues not,* 1.7 being laboured in the hands, but becomes clammy, coheres, & cleaues to the fingers: and that Earth that by moulding in the hand doth clift and cleaue, and resolue into powder, or moulde, argues a barren, and leane layer.

Pinguis item quae sit tellus, hoc deni{que} pacto Discimus; haud vnquam manibus iactata fatiscit, Sed picis in morem ad digitos lentescit habendo.

The poize and colour (saith the Poet) are euident,* 1.8 but the scorched and noysome chilnesse of the soyle is be∣wrayed by the voluntarie growth of Pitch-trées, Ewes and blacke Iuie:

—At sceleratum exquirere frigus Difficile est; piceae tantum taxi{que} nocentes Interdum, aut hederae pandunr vestigia nigrae.* 1.9

For deprehending and finding out the taste of the Earth, Virgil prescribes a generall Specimen in his con∣clusion for triall of salt and bitter soyles; viz. to fill close wicker baskets with the earth and water, and then to runne and straine through the water by treading or pressing, and so by the taste of the water to iudge of the Earth by the qualitie imparted:

—tu spisso vimine quallos Cola{que} praelorum fumosis diripe tectis; Huc ager ille malus dulces{que} a fontibus vndae Ad plenum calcentur, aqua eluctabitur omnis Scilicet, & grandes ibunt per vimina guttae, At sapor indicium faciet manifestus, & ora Tristia tentantûm sensu torquebit amaror.

Ponticke Worme-wood bewraies a bitter and bar∣ren soyle, according to Ouid:

Turpia deformes gignunt absinthia campi, Terraque de fructu, quam sit amara docet.

* 1.10If somewhat before Sunne-set in the first rain-fall ensuing a drought, or in earing, the Earth shall breath forth an aromaticall odour and swéet sauour, it is held an infallible signe of a temperate fertilitie: And that ground which exhailes and breathes-forth exile and fu∣mie vapours quickly vanishing, which attracts humors and selfely expels them, which inuests and cloathes it self with a close swoord of fresh-gréene grasse is parabile, gentle, and plyant for the plowe, good for graine, Elmes, Vine-yards, and Oliuets.

Quae tenuem exhalat nebulam, fumosque volucreis, Et bibit humorem, & cum vult ex se ipsa remittit, Quaeque suo viridi semper se gramine vestit, Nec scabie & salsa &c.

Cato in two significant Epithites (sed per transennam) comprehends the seuerall attributes,* 1.11 both of a good and bad soyle, viz: Pulla and Cariosa.

Plinie disentrauerses the meaning of Pulla to imply a blackish, gentle, mellow, and tender soyle, and such a one (saith he) is determined to be best, both for Tillage, and worke, because by Tenera is intended a soft and ply∣able earth.

* 1.12And amongst other signes of a good soyle, hée enu∣merates Wall-wort, Skeg-trées, Brambles, the little wilde bulbous Crow-toes, (called our Ladies Cow-slip)

Clauer-gras, Trefoile, Melilot, Oakes, Wilde Peare-trées, and Wildings, to betoken a temper appro∣priate for Wheate and White-Corne. And this is the more probable, if they be plentifull in number, and ranke in growth. And both he and Virgil, commend the soyle to bee singular good for Corne, where woods haue béen lately stocked vp:

Aut vnde iratus siluam deuexit arator, Et nemora euertit multos ignaua per annos:

The qualities of a badde soyle are implyed in the Epithite Cariosa,* 1.13 which Plinie explaines to import a Wood-like rottennesse, viz: drie, spungeous, ful of holes, rugged, hoarie, olde, and hollowe.

And Virgil affirmes, that the barren ground waxeth pallid and whitish after the plowing:

At rudis enituit impulso vomere campus.

To these may be added salt, bitter, chauning, burnt, parched, soale-bound, choaked, colde, and wet spewing grounds.

To conclude:* 1.14 Out of the premisses it may be colec∣ted, that the best soyle in generall, consists in a wel-seaso∣ned mixture of a blackish moulde which is light, déepe-fat, swéet in taste and odour, murling, plyable, mellow, of moderate warmth, not stowable in the primer conti∣nent, shining blacke after the share, dulcique vligine laeta, and rich in radicall humour.

So much for the knowledge of ground.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Fertilage.
• * 1.2

  The Nature of grounds how known.
• * 1.3

  Mixture.
• * 1.4

  Blacke.
• * 1.5

  Red.
• * 1.6

  Compacture found by the stowage.
• * 1.7

  Moulding.
• * 1.8

  Weight.
• * 1.9

  Taste.
• * 1.10

  Smell.
• * 1.11

  Pulla & Ca∣riosa.
• * 1.12

  Production.
• * 1.13

  Barren layer.
• * 1.14

  Characters of rich soyles.