Sect. II. Agriculture and Vegetation. 1 5 1 



which is, That no fuch nitrous fait is got 

 from fertile earth. In general, thefe abfor- 

 bent particles are in fuch fmall proportion, 

 even in the richefl foil, and fuch a fmall 

 degree of fermentation is carried on in it, 

 that there are only a few of thefe particles, 

 and thefe too on the furface, capable of 

 being converted to this fait j and they are 

 no fooner converted than abforbed by fome 

 plant. Thefe confiderations {hew, that little 

 of this nitrous fait is to be expected from 

 any foil. That it is fometimes got, appears 

 from this paffage of Lord Bacon, Hift. vit. 

 et morf. Certiffimum eft y quamamque terram 

 licet puram, neque mtrofn admixtam, ita 

 accumulatam et tetfam, ut Immunisfit a radiis 

 folis y neque emittat aliquod vegetabile^ colligere 

 etiam fatis copiofe nltriim. 



ALMOST every perfon who has examined 

 the contents of this foil, has denied, how- 

 ever, the exiflence of this nitrous fait in it. 

 Let us apply to experiment for a decilion of 



this queftion. 



L 4 Exf. 



