Terra: A Philosophical Discourseof Earth. Relating to the Culture and Improvement of it for Vegetation,and the Propagation of Plants, as it was presented to the Royal Society.A New Edition, with Notes by A. Hunter, M.D.
York. Printed by A. Wardfor J. Dodsley. T. Cadell. 1778. Hardcover. 8vo. 23cm, vi,194p., folding table,index, rebound in quarter calf, blind ruled raised bands, gilt titles,brown cloth boards, marbled endpapers, untrimmed, contemporary bookplate(Sir Thomas Neame), internally tight and clean, a fine copy (sgc) -Fussell I-p57. Freeman 1152. Terra and Acetaria were added to the fourthof Sylvia. "John Evelyn wrote, as well as his famous Sylva and Pomonadealing with forest trees and fruit trees, A Philosophical Discourse onEarth, (first) published in 1676. This remained the standard work on soilscience for more than a century, and was widely read. Evelyn adhered tothe view, supported by experiments made by Nicholas and Cusa, vanHelmount, and Boyle, that plants grew by transmuting water, which was allthat they apparently took in. This hypothesis was only overturned whenin the late eighteenth century Priestly, Laboister, and Ingenhouszisolated oxygen and elucidated the process of photosynthesis, . Evelyngave recommendations for digging over the soil, because exposure to theair increased its fertility, and for preparing compost, using variouskinds of dung. ." Knight. Natural Science. p114. Item #21073
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