82 We Principles of Part II. 



volatilized, the particles to which they muft 

 be reduced, would be continually warned 

 off from the foil, carried into the fea, and fo 

 be of little ufe towards the nourifhment of 

 other plants. 



THE only proper and wife fcheme is 

 followed. The oils and falts, from being 

 fixed, are volatilized, carried up into the 

 air, and defcend again to fructify the earth, 

 which was lately robbed of them. Cor* 

 ruption, then, is the parent of vegetation ; 

 and could be fo in no other way than in 

 the prefent. Though of feeming difadvan- 

 tage in nature, as mewing it on the decay ; 

 though highly difagreeable to the external 

 fenfes, and often dangerous to health j yet 

 is putrefaction of more ufe than any of the 

 other two fermentations, as it provides for 

 our future nourimment, and carries on that 

 beautiful circle, which nature is command- 

 ed, by her author and conftant fupporter, 

 to move in. 



PUTRE- 



