of the Vegetation Book II: 
Then, How 
the Sap 
is imbib’d, 
and diftribu- 
ted to the fe- 
veral Parts. 
$.3. 
Ch) $1112 
nate the Soil : Being thus, in part, out of their own Refolved Prin- 
ciples, annually Compounded again. 
ur. § Many of thefe Principles, upon their Refolution, being by 
the Suz more, attenuated and volatilized 5 continually afcend into 
the Aer, and are mixed therewith. Where, although they lofe not 
their Vegatable Nature, yet being amongft other purer Principles; them- 
felves alfo, depofiting their Earthy feculencies, become more fübtile, 
fimple and Effential Bodies. 
12. $. And the Aer being ofan Elastick or Springy Nature, pref- 
fing, more or lef’, uponall Bodies ; it thereby forceth and infinuateth 
it felfinto the Soil, through all its permeable Pores, Upon its own 
entrance, it carries alfo many of the faid Vegetable and Efential Princi- 
ples along with it; which, together with the reft, are fpread all over 
the Body of the Soil. By which means, though a lef Vehement, yet 
more Subtil Fermentation, and with the leaft advantage of warmth, 
continuable, will be effected. 
13. $. The Principles being thus farther refolved and fübtilized, 
would prefently exhale away, if the Reim, again, did not prevent. 
Which, therefore, falling upon and foaking through the Ground, is as a 
freth Menfruum, faturate or impregnate with many of them. And as 
it (till finketh lower, it carries them along with it felf from the Su- 
perficial, to the Deeper parts of the Ground  thus,not only maturing 
thofe parts alfo, which, otherwifé, would be more lean and cold 5 
but therein likewife, laying up and fecuring a Store, more gradually 
and thriftily to be beftowed upon the Upper parts again, as they need, 
14. $. And Autumn having laid up the Store, Winter following 
thereupon, doth, as it were, lock the doors upon it. In which time, 
fome warmer Intervals,ferve further and gradually to mature the ftored 
Principles, without hazard of their being Exhaled. And the Spring 
returning, fets the doors open again, with warmer and more con- 
ftant Suz, with gentle and frequent Rain, fully refolves the faid Priz« 
ciples; and fo fürnifheth a plentiful Diet, forall kinds of Vegetables s 
being a Compoftion of Water chiefly, wherein are refolved, fome por- 
tions of Earth, Salt, Acid, Oyl, spirit, and Aer 5 or other Bodies of 
Affinity herewith. 
15. $. THE ROOT ftanding in the Ground thus prepared,and be- 
ing always furrounded with a Barque, which confifteth chiefly ofa 
Parenchymous and Spongy Body 5 (a) it will thus, as Sponges do, natu- 
rally fuck up the watry parts of the Soil impregnate [with the faid 
Principles. Which Principles notwithftanding, being in proportion 
with the watry parts, but few, and alfo more Efential; (b) therefore 
in this Parenchymons Part, are they never much difcovered, either by 
Colonr, Tafte, or Smell. Asit is probable, that fome diftilled Waters, 
which difcover nothing, to Senfe, of the Plats from which they are 
diftilled, may yet, in part, retain their Faculties. And it is known, 
that many Bodies ; as Crocus Metal/orum, convey many of their parts 
into the Menfiruum, without any fenfible alteration thereof, So Froft 
and Som have neither Tafte nor Smell; yet from their Figures, ‘iis 
evident, that there are divers kinds of Saline Principles incorporated 
with them; or at leaft, füch Principles as are common to them and 
divers kinds of salts. 
16. $ 
