Philofophical History of Plants. 23 
bable, that it is diffolved in the AE1ker,as other Salts are in Water, or in 
the Vaporousparts ofthe Aer, Asalfo to try, what different Effeds, a 
diverfity of der may have upon a Vegetables as by fetting a Plunt,or Seed, 
either exceeding Low, asat the bottom of a deep Wells or exceeding 
j High, as on the top ofa Steeple. Or elle by expofing fome Soil to the 
Aer, which is afluredly free from any Seed, and fo, as no Seed can light 
upon it ; and to obferve, whether the Aer hath a power of producing 
a Vegetable therein, or not : and the like. 
61. $. Laftly of the sux; asto which, it may be confidered, What 
Influence it may have upon the Plantit felf ; upon the Soil; Or upon 
i the Aer. Whether that Influence is any thing elfe befides Heat : or may 
differ from that of a Fire, otherwife, than by being Temperate, and 
more Equal. That it doth, feems evident from an Experiment fometime 
fince given us, in one of the Parifian Fournals des Scavans and which I 
therefore think very applicable to our prefent purpofe. If you hold a 
; Concaveat a due diftance, againít a Fire, it will colleét and caftthe Heat 
into a burning Focus: but ifyou put a peice of plain Glafs between 
J them, the Glafs will fcatter the Heat, and deftroy the Focus. Whereas 
the Sun-Beams, being gathered in like manner, will país through the in- 
terpofed Glafs, and maintain their Focws. Asfor That, of the Colle&ti- 
on of the Sun-beams,by the help of Glaffès; in the form ofa Magistery, 
orof Flowers, and fuch like, Idefire to fufpend my thoughts of them, 
d till Ife them. I will only fay thusmuch further at prefent, That I do 
k not underftand why the Su» fhould not have fome Influence upon Bo- 
f dies, befides by Heat, ifit may be granted, That the Moon hath ; for 
i which, it fhould feem, there are fome good Arguments. 
j 62. $. WE HAVE thus far examined the Principles neceflary to A Sixth Ge: 
Vegetation. The Queftion may be putonce more, In what manner are Peral Mean: 
4 thefe Principles fo adapted, as to become capable ofbeing aflembled ro- Only hinted; 
i gether, in fucha Number, Conjugation, Proportion, and Union, as to 
make a Vegetable Body 2 Forthe comprehenfion whereof, we muftalfo 
$ know,Whatarethe Principles of thefe Principles. Which, although they 
> lie info great anabyf ofobfeurity 5 yet, I think, Ihave fome reafon to be- 
> lieve, that they are not altogether undifcoverable. How far they may 
- be fo, [am fo far from Determining, that I fhall not now Conjecture. 
> 
> 
t 
e 
63. $. THIS isthe Defign, and thefe the Means I propofe in order The Con- 
` thereunto. To which, I fùppofe, they may all appear to be neceflary. clufion. 
For what we obtain of Nature, we muft not do it by commanding,but 
r by courting ofHer. Thofe that woo Her, may poflibly have her for 
t their Wife; but She is not fo common, as to proftitute her (elf to the 
e belt behaved Wit, which only pra&ifeth upon it felf, and is not appli- 
edtoher. I mean, that where ever Men will go beyond Phanfie and 
Imagination, depending upon the Condué of Divine Wifdom,they muft 
Labour, Hope and Perleverc. ` And as the Means propounded, are all 
neceflary, fo they may, in fome meafure, prove effectual. How far, I 
promife not ; the Way is long and dark: and as Travellers fometimes 
amongít Mountains, by gaining the top of one, are fo far from their 
>) Journeys end ; that they only come to fee another lies before them : 
d fo the Way of Nature, is lo impervious, and, as I may fay, down Hill 
F and up Hill, that how far foever we go, yet the furmounting of one 
e difficulty, is wont (till to give us the profpe& of another. We may 
y there» 
