Chap. 3 . concerning W A T E R^ &'c. 1 1 7 

 of Snow, while the other is only composM of 

 Aqueous or Watry Particles 5 but be it which 

 it will. Clouds are by moft Naturalifts not 

 improperly call'd the Mother of Rain, Bo- 

 dies wherein are gendered that ufeful and re- 

 frefhing Meteor. 



There is fome room to difpute whether of Dews, 

 Dews ever congregate together into thofe 

 Bodies, but only as they are elevated by the 

 Sun ^ lb when that Power is gone, as is the 

 Cafe after Sun-fet, then they immediately 

 defcend 5 and this is more obfervable in warm 

 Weather, and in very hot Countries, 



From whence ?liny (^a) remarks, that Afri- a Remark 

 ca is memorable for the great Dews that falP-^^'^^"^ ^' 

 in the middle of the Summer : But in other 

 colder Countries, where Rains are more com- 

 mon, Dews are not. But to quit thefe Enqui- 

 ries, which will infenfibly draw me beyond 

 my Purpofe, I proceed to Rains, &c. 



In this lucid and watry Body (be it either The Nature 

 Rain or Pond- Water) 'tis certain there areo/^^^^'^- 

 two diftind: Properties or Species 5 the one 

 ferving for the Diflblution of the Salts 

 of the Earth ^ and the other a Terreftri- 

 al Matter it meets with in its Sublimation, 

 which may not improperly be called Salt or 

 Nitre itfclf, both which are of excellent Ufe 

 in the Bufinefs I am upon. 



And it has been the Obfervation of fome An ohfer- 

 Ingenious Perfons, that the Fertility of the ^'^^'°"' 



(rt) Plin.Nat. Hift. lib. 2. cap, 62. 



I 3 Land 



