CENTURY I. 13 



well for the skin of water, as for the air within : for 

 the air likewise avoideth discontinuance ; and there 

 fore casteth itself into a round figure. And for the 

 stop and arrest of the air a little while, it sheweth 

 that the air of itself hath little or no appetite of 

 ascending. 



Experiment solitary touching the making of artificial 



springs. 



25. The rejection, which I continually use, of 

 experiments, though it appeareth not, is infinite ; 

 but yet if an experiment be probable in the work, 

 and of great use, I receive it, but deliver it as doubt 

 ful. It was reported by a sober man, that an arti 

 ficial spring may be made thus : Find out a, hang 

 ing ground, where there is a good quick fall of rain 

 water. Lay a half-trough of stone, of a good length, 

 three or four foot deep within the same ground ; 

 with one end upon the high ground, the other upon 

 the low. Cover the trough with brakes a good 

 thickness, and cast sand upon the top of the brakes : 

 you shall see, saith he, that after some showers are 

 past, the lower end of the trough will run like a 

 spring of water : which is no marvel, if it hold while 

 the rain water lasteth ; but he said it would continue 

 long time after the rain is past : as if the water did 

 multiply itself upon the air, by the help of the cold 

 ness and condensation of the earth, and the consort 

 of the first water. 



Experiment solitary touching the venomous quality of 

 man s Jlesh. 



26, The French, which put off the name of the 



