[ 'So ] 



Thirdly; "Which ever is preferred, or found 

 bed, why is it fo?" &c. The anfwer to the firft 

 part of this queftion is contained in the anfwer 

 to the firft queftion. It is fo, becaufe it fupplies 

 more copioufly that matter or fubftance which 

 is the pabulum, or food of plants, and what is 

 the material fupport of vegetation, without which 

 it would as neceflarily ceafe, as an animal would 

 die without food. And, 



Fourthly ; " What is the modus operandi of the 

 benefit arifing from the floating of meadows?" 



Perhaps this queftion, ftrictly and philofophi- 

 cally fpeaking, is as little capable of a fatisfaclory 

 anfwer, as, What is the efTence of matter, or that 

 fubftance which fupports its extenfion, folidity, 

 figure? &c. That heat and moifture are the 

 fine qua non of vegetation, is abundantly manifeft ; 

 for it is univerfally certain, that neither feeds nor 

 roots, if kept perfectly dry, will ever vegetate; and 

 if kept wet without heat, they corrupt and rot, 

 but never grow. 



Heat and moifture, therefore, are two univerfal 

 agents indifpenfably neceflary to the life and 

 growth of plants; but how far either or both 

 fupply the principles or material fubftance which 



caufes 



