140 



If there be not. as many sorts of particles as are requi- 

 site for the essential parts it will not grow 'at all. If 

 they be there, but not enough of them, it will not grow- 

 to its natural stature. If the less essential particles be 

 wanting, it will be defective in smell, taste, or some 

 other way ; but though some land may not contain 

 matter proper for some plants, yet it may for others. 

 All this shews that plants owe their increase, not to 

 water only, but to a particular terrestrial matter; else 

 there would be no need of manure, or of transplant- 

 ing them from place to place. The rain falls on all 

 places alike, on this field and that, this garden or or- 

 chard and another. Vegetables therefore are not form- 

 ed of water. One plant drew up 2501 grains of this ; 

 yet increased only three grains and a half. The mint 

 in B. took thirty-nine grains of water a day, which 

 was much more than the whole weight of the original 

 plant; and yet it gained not one fourth of a grain in a 

 day and night. 



Water then is only a vehicle to the terrestrial matter 

 which forms vegetables. Where this is wanting, the 

 plant does not increase, though ever so much water 

 ascend into it. This is only the agent which conveys 

 that matter to them, and distributes it to their several 

 parts for their nourishment. It is fitted for this office 

 by the figure of its parts, which are exactly spherical, 

 therefore easily susceptible of motion, and consequent- 

 ly capable of conveying other matter that is not so vo. 

 luble. Beside, the constituent particles of water are 

 absolutely solid, and do not yield to the greatest ex- 

 ternal force ; therefore their intervals are always alike. 

 By this quality water is disposed to receive matter into 

 it: by the former, to bear it along with it. 



It is farther qualified to be a vehicle of this matter, 

 by the fineness of Us particles. We scarce know a 

 ft uid in nature, except fire, whose constituent parts are 

 so exceeding small ; they pass pores which air itself 

 cannot pass. This enables them to enter the finest ves- 

 sels of plants, and to introduce the terrestrial matter 

 to all parts of them; each of which, by means of pe- 



