CENTURY IV. 187 



The air once heated, I conceive, maketh the flame 

 burn more mildly, and so helpeth the continuance. 

 The air, if it be dry, is indifferent : the air, if it be 

 moist, doth in a degree quench the flame, as we see 

 lights will go out in the damps of mines, and howso 

 ever maketh it burn more dully, and so helpeth the 

 continuance. 



Experiments in consort touching burials or infusions of 

 divers bodies in earth. 



376. Burials in earth serve for preservation, and 

 for condensation, and for induration of bodies. And 

 if you intend condensation or induration, you may 

 bury the bodies so as earth may touch them ; as if 

 you will make artificial porcelane, &c. And the like 

 you may do for conservation, if the bodies be hard 

 and solid ; as clay, wood, &c. But if you intend pre 

 servation of bodies more soft and tender, then you 

 must do one of these two: either you must put them 

 in cases, whereby they may not touch the earth, or 

 else you must vault the earth, whereby it may hang 

 over them and not touch them : for if the earth touch 

 them, it will do more hurt by the moisture, causing 

 them to putrify, than good by the virtual cold, to 

 conserve them, except the earth be very dry and 

 sandy. 



377. An orange, lemon, and apple, wrapt in a 

 linen cloth, being buried for a fortnight s space four 

 foot deep ^yithin the earth, though it were in a moist 

 place, and a rainy time, yet came forth no ways 

 mouldy or rotten, but were become a little harder 



