_England_, that as yet have not beene manured and improved; the woods of _New England_ being accounted better ground than the Forrests of _England_ or woodland ground, or heathy plaines. For the naturall soyle, I preferre it before the countrey of Surry, or Middlesex, which if they were not inriched with continuall manurings, would be lesse fertile than the meanest ground in _New England_; wherefore it is neyther impossible, nor much improbable, that upon improvements the soile may be as good in time as _England_. And whereas some gather the ground to be naught, and soone out of hart, because _Plimouth_ men remove from their old habitations, I answer, they do no more remove from their habitation, than the Citizen which hath one house in the Citty & another in the Countrey, for his pleasure, health, & profit. For although they have taken new plots of ground, and built houses upon them, yet doe they retaine their old houses still, and repaire to them, every Sabbath day; neyther doe they esteeme their old lots worse than when they first tooke them: what if they doe not plant on them every yeare? I hope it is no ill husbandry to rest the land, nor is alwayes that the worst that lies sometimes fallow. If any man doubt of the goodnesse of the ground, let him comfort himselfe with the cheapenesse of it; such bad land in _England_ I am sure wil bring in store of good monie. This ground is in some places of a soft mould, and easie to plow; in other places so tough and hard, that I have seene ten Oxen toyled, their Iron chaines broken, and their Shares and Coulters much strained: but after the first breaking up it is so easie, that two Oxen and a Horse may plow it; there hath as good _English_ Corne growne there, as could be desired; especially Rie and Oates, and Barly: there hath beene no great tryall as yet of Wheate, and Beanes; onely thus much I affirme, that these two graines grow well in Gardens, therefore it is not improbable, but when they can gather seede of that which is sowne in the countrey, it may grow as well as any other Graine: but commonly the seede that commeth out of _England_ is heated at Sea, and therefore cannot thrive at land. CHAP. V. _Of the Hearbes, Fruites, Woods, Waters and Mineralls._