yjz M E M O I R S ^ ^/?^ 
tity of tcrreArial matter it carries up into the atmofphere is not 
great 5 but what it does, is chiefly of that light kind of vegeta- 
ble matter, and that too perfectly diflblved and reduced to 
fingle corpufcJes, all fit to enter the tubules and veflels of 
plants; on which account it is that this water is fo very fertile 
and prolific; but a great deal of the mineral matter is not 
only grofs and ponderous, but fcabrous, and inflexible, and fo 
not difpofed to enter the pores of the root; fome of the fimple 
vegetable particles unite by degrees and form fmall clods or 
Mokculoe, fuch as thofe mentioned in H, K, and L, flicking to 
the extremities of the roots of thofe plants; others of them are 
entangled in a loofer manner, and form i\\t Nubecula, and green 
bodies lb commonly oblervcd in ftagnant waters; which, when 
thus conjoined, are too large to enter the pores, or afcend up 
into the veflels of plants, which fingly they might have done; 
of this fuch as arc converfant in agriculture are well aware of, 
for let your earth be never lo rich, good, and fit for the produc- 
tion of corn, or other vegetables, little will come of it, unlcfs 
the parts be feparated and loofe, and 'tis on this account they 
bellow the pains they do in the culture of it, in digging, plow- 
ing, harrowing and breaking the clodded lumps of earth; 'tis 
the Himc way, that fea-falt, nitre and other falts promote vege- 
tation, they loofen the earth and feparate its concreted parts, 
and by that means fit and difpofe them to be afTumed by the 
water, and carried up into the feed and plant for its formation 
and mcreafe; there is no man but muft obferve, how apt all 
forts of falts are to be wrought upon by moifture, how eafily 
they liquify and tun with it; and whenthefe are drawn ofFand 
have delerted the lumps wherewith they are incorporated, 
thofe mull moulder immediately, and fall afunder of courfe ; 
the hardellflone we meet with, if it happen, as frequently it 
does, to have any fort of fait intermixed with the land of which 
It confifts, upon being expofed to a moift air, in a Ihort time 
dilTolves and crumbles all to pieces, and much more will 
cloded earth or clay, which is not of near focompad and folida 
contexture as ftone is : The fame way likewile is lime Service- 
able in this affair, it being well known how apt it is to be put 
into fermentation and commotion by water, nor can fuch com- 
motion ever happen, when lime ismixed with earth, however 
hard and cloded that may be, without opening and loofeningof 
It. 4. i he plant is more or Jefs nourilhed and augmented,' in 
proportion as the water, in which itllandb, contains a fmaller 
pr greater quantity of proper terreftrial matter in it; the truth of 
which 
