of them; and the business of _Planting_ is an _Art_
or _Science_ (for so _Varro_ has solemnly defined it;{lxxx:1}) and that
exceedingly wide of Truth, which (it seems) many in his time accounted of
it; _facillimam esse, nec ullius acuminis Rusticationem_,{lxxx:2} namely
that it was an easie and insipid Study. It was the simple _Culture_ only,
with so much difficulty retrieved from the late confusion of an intestine
and bloody _War_, like that of _Ours_, and now put in _Reputation_ again,
which made the noble _Poet_ write,

........How hard it was
Low Subjects with illustrious words to grace.
........_Verbis ea vincere magnum
Quam sit, & angustis hunc addere rebus honorem._

Georg. 3.

Seeing, as the _Orator_ does himself express it, _Nihil est homine
libero dignius_; there is nothing more becoming and worthy of a
_Gentleman_, no, not the Majesty of a{lxxx:3} _Consul_. In ancient and
best Times, Men were not honour'd and esteem'd for the only Learned, who
were great _Linguists_, profound _Criticks_, Reader and Devourers of
Books: But such whose Studies consisted of the Discourses, Documents and
Observations of their _Fore-Fathers_, ancient and venerable Persons;
who, (as the excellent Author of the _Rites_ of the _Israelites_,
_cap._ xv, &c. acquaints us,) were oblig'd to Instruct, and Inform their
Children of the wonderful Things God had done for their Ancestors;
together with the Precepts of the _Moral Law_, _Feasts_, and Religious
Ceremonies: But taught them likewise all that concern'd _Agriculture_;
joyn'd with Lessons of perpetual practice; in which they were,
doubtless, exceedingly knowing; whilst during so many Ages, they
employ'd themselves almost continually in it: And tho' now adays this
_noble Art_ be for the most part, left to be exercis'd amongst us, by
People of grosser and unthinking Souls; yet there is no _Science_
whatever, which contains a vaster Compass of Knowledge, infinitely more
useful and beneficial to Mankind, than the fruitless and empty Notions
of the greatest part of _Speculatists_; counted to be the only _Eruditi_
and learned Men. An _Israelite_, who from _Tradition_ of his
Fore-fathers, his own _Experience_, and some modern Reading, had
inform'd himself of the _Religion_ and _Laws_ which were to regulate his
Life; and knew how to procure Things necessary: Who perfectly understood
the several qualities of the _Earth_, _Plants_, and _Places_ agreeable
to