(seq. 338)

East Florida

Rows, will find in the Passages, that an Acid has been generated under the
Stratum, that this Acid has corroded (alkaholized) the upper part of
the sandy Soil into a fine Marl, which after it is hoed, or plowed about six
Inches in Depth with and under the Sand, in order to stop the wide Insterstices
between the sandy Grains, and hinder the quick Passage of the Rain through
them to the Refreshment of what is sowed or planted there, that consequently
this Method will richly reward him with a fine Crop in the Passages, and
there remains no room for Doubt, when the necessary Pains are taken a little
before the next ensuing planting Season to move the Stratum of Stones &c out
of the Rows into Passages last planted, so as to make them Rows, and the
Rows to Passages, it will be discovered, that a two years Stratum has made
a much deeper Impression of corroded Sand into Marl, and will consequently
pay that Trouble with a second and richer Crop. It msut be observed,
that the Seeds or Plants are to be sowed or placed on both sides of the Passages,
next to the Stratum of the Rows, so as to give them the Benefit of the moisture
constantly retained under the Stratum. Thus annually, or once in two
years removing the Stratum from the Rows into the Passages will afford a
perpetual Renewal and enriching of the Ground. 2d be a Destruction to all
wild and pernicious Seeds and Roots of Grass as well, as of Weeds; a Method
preferably answering to that of the Northern, and cold Countries, where the
Farmer by plowing up the Roots of the Grass and Weeds, and by exposing them
to severe Frosts endeavours to extirpate them, however no Frost can destroy
the Seeds, which are dropped from the ripe Grassland Weeds in the Ground,
which the artificial Stratum will smother, and perfectly destroy, and save
laborious hewing, and plowing in the Summer Season to exterminate the
Grass and Weeds out of the planted Fields, so that this MEthod is saving
of much Labour, and procuring a richer Crop, than common Methods.
3dly This mode of making such Stratums, will, though with little Industry,
acquire the same Benefit in these parts, what Ice and Snow occasions to
the Soil in those Countries, which are favoured by Nature with Ice or Snow [?]
not depending from any industry. Thus I have given a Remedy
to those, who will or cannot trust a Crop on a shallow sandy Soil. I am
sure it will prove in future time, when this Method is once introduced and becomes common, that by these means the best manure is procured
in all, especially hot Climates, where Dung increases Rather the heat
more, than is necessary, besides infecting the Ground with Worms and
New Seeds, and where the hewing and plowing to loosen and mellow
the Ground for the easier absorbing the airy Night Dews or even Winds
are