[ ^02 ] 



I anfwer, the objedion feems calculated to give 

 countenance to their opinion, but ^t by no means 

 enters far enough into the bufinefs to inveftigate the 

 truth J for though the fields are contiguous, and 

 their atmofphere equally fo -, corredly and truly 

 fpeaking, the latter may be no more the fame than 

 the, former, probably in refpedt to quality far more 

 different. When we fpeak of the atmofphere, we 

 mean, not only the circumambient air, but every 

 principle of whatever nature or kind that floats in 

 it. Thefe are fometimes of a very malignant na- 

 ture, and extend far and near, but are frequently 

 confined to a kind of flream or current, like water 

 in a river, and affed thofe objeds only which fland 

 in their way and obftrucl their paffage. It is not 

 very uncommon to fee trees and plants blighted 

 and blafted on one fide, while the other fhews not 

 the leafl fign or mark of being injured. Such par- 

 tial fufferings happen at times to almoft every field, 

 and every kind of plant it b^ars. 



It hath many times fallen within my obfervation, 

 that the eaft and fouth fides of a field of wheat have 

 been exceedingly fmutty, when the north and weft, 

 and the odier parts of the field, have been little 

 affedled. by it. But further, we have frequendy 

 found both, found and fmutty ears growing from the 



fame 



