Sect. III. Agriculture and Vegetation 1 5 



arofe ; the acid tafte was at leaft deftroyed, 

 and the vinegar reduced to a neutral body. 

 From this experiment we learn, that rich 

 mould contains a great many particles 

 which attract acids, and with them make 

 a neutral fait. I have learned from many 

 different trials, that all foils fit for the nou- 

 rimrnent of plants, contain more or lefs of 

 thefe antacid particles. 



To difcover what we mould get from 

 this earth by diftillation. 



Exp. 3. I diftilled half a pound of it 

 with a gentle heat j I got in two hours an 

 ounce of a yellow empyreumatic liquor, 

 which was of an alkaline nature. The 

 ftrongeft fire continued for nine hours 

 longer, gave half an ounce more of a yel- 

 lowilh empyreumatic liquor, which had 

 feveral oleaginous filaments fwimming in 

 it. It fmelt like ipirit of hartfliorn, turned 

 fyrup of violets green, and effervefced 

 firongly with vinegar, 



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