CHAP. VIII. [unspec H]
¶ Sundry sorts of Earth and Marle.
OF those marles which are found to be fat, the white is chiefe; and thereof be many sorts. The most mordant and sharpest of them all, is that whereof wee spake before. A second kind there is of chalkish clay, which our gold-smiths vse (called Tripela:) this lieth a great depth within the earth, insomuch as many times men are driuen to sinke pits 100 foot deep, for it; and those haue a small and narrow mouth aboue, but within-forth and vnder the ground they be digged wider, by reason that the veine thereof runneth many waies, in manner of other mettall mines. This is the marle so much vsed in Britain: the strength therof being cast vpon a land, will last 80 yeres; and neuer yet was the man known that herewith marled the same [unspec I] ground twice in all his life time. The third kind of white marle, is that which the Greekes call Glischromargon: it is no other than the Fullers chalkie clay mixed with a viscous and fatty earth. The nature of it, is to breed grasse better than to beare corne: for after one crop of corne is taken off the ground in haruest, before seed time is come for winter grain, the grasse wil be so high growne, that a man may cut it down and haue a plentiful after-math for hay: and yet al the while that it hath corn vpon it, you shall not see it to beare any grasse besides. This marle con∣tinueth good 30 yeres: if it be laid ouer-thick vpon a land, it choketh the ground in manner of * 1.1 Cumine. The Columbine marle, the Gauls call in their language, by a name borrowed of the Greeks, Pelias, (i. Doue or Pigeon marle:) it is fetched out of the ground in clots and lumpes, like as stones be hewed out of quarries: with Sunne and the frost together, it will resolue and cleaue into most thin slates or flakes. This marle is as good for corne as for herbage. As for [unspec K] sandy marle, it will serue the turn for want of other: yea and if the ground be cold, moist, and weely, the husbandman will make choice thereof before other.
The Vbians, vpon my knowledge, vse to inrich their ground and make itmore battle (though their territory otherwise be most fertile) with any earth whatsoeuer; prouided alwaies that it be digged vp three foot deep at least, and laid a foot thick; a deuise that no other country doth practise: howbeit this soile and manner of manuring, continueth good not aboue ten yeres: the Heduans and Pictones, haue forced their grounds and made them most plentifull, with lime∣stone; which is found also by experience to be passing profitable for vines and oliues.
To come now to the ordering of this piece of husbandry: the ground ought to be ploughed first, before marle of any sort be cast vpon it; to the end that the medicinable vertue & substance [unspec L] thereof, might the sooner and more greedily be receiued into it. Now forasmuch as marle is at the first ouer-rough and hard, not so free in the beginning as to resolue and turne into blade or grasse, it had need of some compost or dung to be mingled with it: for otherwise, be it neuer so rich, it will rather do harm than good to the ground, by reason that it is yet strange and not ac∣quainted therewith: and yet help it this way as wel as you can, it will not bring forth any plenty the first yere after it is laid on. Last of all, it skilleth much to consider the nature of the ground, which you mean to marle: for the dry marle, sorteth well with a moist soile; and the fatty, hit∣teth that which is dry and lean. But when the ground is of a middle temperature between both, it mattereth not whether you vse the white gold-smiths chalke, or the Columbine marle, for [unspec M] either of them will serue well enough.