438 NATURAL HISTORY. 



water itself hath some sweetness ; for the rainbow 

 consisteth of a glomeration of small drops, which 

 cannot possibly fall but from the air that is very low ; 

 and therefore may hold the very sweetness of the 

 herbs and flowers, as a distilled water ; for rain, and 

 other dew that fall from high, cannot preserve the 

 smell, being dissipated in the drawing up : neither 

 do we know, whether some water itself may not 

 have some degree of sweetness. It is true, that we 

 find it sensibly in no pool, river, nor fountain ; but 

 good earth, newly turned up, hath a freshness and 

 good scent ; which water, if it be not too equal, for 

 equal objects never move the sense, may also have. 

 Certain it is, that bay-salt, which is but a kind of 

 water congealed, will sometimes smell like violets. 



Experiment solitary touching sweet smells. 

 833. To sweet smells heat is requisite to concoct 

 the matter ; and some moisture to spread the breath 

 of them. For heat, we see that woods and spices 

 are more odorate in the hot countries than in the 

 cold : for moisture, we see that things too much 

 dried lose their sweetness : and flowers growing, 

 smell better in a morning or evening than at noon. 

 Some sweet smells are destroyed by approach to the 

 fire ; as violets, wall-flowers, gilly-fl owers, pinks ; 

 and generally all flowers that have cool and delicate 

 spirits. Some continue both on the fire, and from 

 the fire ; as rose-water, c. Some do scarce come 

 forth, or at least not so pleasantly, as by means of the 

 fire ; as jumper, sweet gums, &c. and all smells that 



