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caufe^ it will be difficult to account for the Rot be- 

 ing taken on fallows in a finglc day, and in water- 

 meadows fometimes in half an hour, when in 

 grounds of a different fort, although exceffively wet 

 and flabby, fheep will remain for many weeks to* 

 gether uninjujred. 



Another opinion, which has many adherents, is, 

 that the rot is owing to the quick growth of grafs 

 or herbs that grow in wet places. 



Without premifing that all-bounteous Provi- 

 dence has given to every animal its peculiar tafie, 

 by which it diftinguilhes the food proper for its 

 prefervation and fupport, (if not vitiated by fortui- 

 tous clrcumftanees) it feems very difficult to dif- 

 cover, on philofophical principles, why the quick 

 growth of grafs fhould render it noxious,— or why 

 any herb fhould at one feafon produce fatal effects, 

 by the admiffion of pure water only into its com- 

 ponent parts, which at other times is perfeftly in-^ 

 nocent, although brought to its utmoft ftrcngth 

 ^nd maturity by tiie genial influence of the fun. 

 So far from, agreeing with thofe who attribute the 

 Rot xo quick-growing grafs, which they call fiafliy, 

 jnfjpid, and deftitute of falts, to mc the quicknef^ 

 of growth fs a proof of its being endued with the 

 mofl: active prii^ciples of vcgctation| and is m of 



the 



