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[ 202 ] 



gorated and rendered luxuriant. If plants of any 

 kind were planted in rows, according to the prac- 

 tice of the new hulbandry, and the intervals horfe- 

 hoed two or three times in the fummcr; every 

 fliower of rain, yea, the dews of the nights, would 

 be freely imbibed by the well-pulverized foil, and 

 th& aliment it contains diredly conveyed to the 

 roots and fibres of the plants which occupy the 

 intervals. 



That the true aliment of plants is derived from 

 animal fubftances, diflblved and volatilized by fer- 

 mentation and putrefaction ; that the atmofphere 

 is the grand receptacle of all putrid effluvia; that 

 this fubtilized matter enters into, and helps to con- 

 ftitute, the clouds ahd other meteors ; that it at- 

 tracts, and is attraded by, hail, rain, fnow, &c. 

 and by that means returned to replcnifli and fruc- 

 tify the earth; the writer himfelf is fully convinced. 

 But fuppofing his theory refpeding the principles 

 6f nutrition be ever fo erroneous, it is of no con- 

 fequence to the pradical hufbandman; it is fuf- 

 ficicrit for him to know and to be well acquainted 

 \i'ith a mode of pradice which will infallibly render 

 his lields fertile, and capable of producing profit- 

 able crops, by means ealily practicable and within 

 his own power, be the fituation and condition of 

 the foil whatever it may, total barrennefs excepted. 



That 





