130 tte Principles of Part III. 



nion to fall of itfelf, as it mutt naturally 

 do, when unfupported by experiments. 



OTHERS attribute vegetation to falts of 

 different kinds. But whence they come, 

 and of what nature they are, we have only 

 their own affertion. 



IT is the common fate, in all difputed 

 points, that each attaches himfelf to one 

 fide, without allowing the other any fhare 

 of truth. I have found by experience, that 

 each fide has generally fome truth in itj 

 that mankind err by extending that parti- 

 cular truth to a general one j and that the 

 real truth is generally made up of fome- 

 what taken from each opinion. The rea- 

 foners on agriculture have failed, becaufe 

 they afierted, that plants were fed either 

 by air, water, earth, or fait. I join, in fome 

 meafure, with all thefe ; and aflert, that 

 plants are nourished by thefe bodies, united 

 with two others, oil and fire in a fixed 

 ftate, Thefe fix principles joined together, 



4- > ' m 



<fa n, t,j tirtdjtrt '. 



JVL- a Jtefat ft 'fa^*kw* 3 ~!&*& 176 



