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SOme hold at this day (and ancient Writers witnesse the same) that earth being salt and bitter of tast,* 1.1 is neither good, nor apt to be made good.
It is also often written, and generally received, that such earth as you shall see white and bare (that is to say) wholly
chalke, or all sand lacking a mixture of perfect earth, or if it be clay,* 1.2 or so dry, as thereby it shall gape or coane in the Sum∣mer, is nought for this or any like purpose.
It is further said, that if you shall feele a clod (being dissol∣ved with water) to be very clammy, or cleaving like Waxe to your fingers in kneading it, the same to be profitable land, &c.
J for my part rely not upon other mens opinions, neither meane to dispute with any man herein, J like not to make my mouth an arbitrater in this matter, mine eye may be deceived and my feeling may erre in the precise distinction of good or bad land, but mine experience hath never failed in this thing (that is to say) that a barren, a moory, or wet soyle (though it perhaps doe content a wild Hoppe) shall never please nor maintaine a good Hoppe.
I will not say with Varro, that a good ground yeeldeth Walwoorts, nor with Collumella, that where Crabs or slowes grow, there the ground is rich. J can say nothing of Floren∣tines experience in digging a hole, and filling it up againe, and by the swelling to judge the strength, or by the gaping to define the weaknesse thereof; but J can say againe by sure ex∣perience, that a dry ground, if it be rich, mellow, and gentle, is the soyle that serveth best for this purpose, and such a mould must either be sought out, or else by cost and labor be provo∣ked.
If it be a very shallow rocke (except you raise it with greet or good earth) you shall not set your Poles deepe, steddy and fast enough, to withstand the force of the wind.
But to redresse the convenience hereof, you shall be taught in the tytle of Poales.
A light mould (though it be very rich) is not very apt for this purpose, for it is a received and a proved rule, that the hea∣viest ground will beare the most weight of Hops, I say, so as it be a ground apt for this purpose.
Ʋirgilius.
Didymus. Plinius.