ATMOSPHERIC OBSERVATIONS. 405 



rounded, and passed into it in the vapour we have 

 just noticed. I was the more particular in observ- 

 ing this common event, as it afforded a forcible 

 illustration of the invisible evaporation which is 

 constantly going forward, the unremitting changes 

 in operation, the action and reaction of the earth 

 and its products with the atmosphere. During the 

 night, and the earlier parts of the morning, water 

 was falling on the earth in minute particles, consti- 

 tuting what we call fog ; then out burst the sun, 

 and reclaimed this moisture which had fallen, and 

 we could see it obeying the mandate, and pass away 

 in steam. In the evening it will probably return 

 again in fog, or in rain, when the atmosphere cools ; 

 and thus a constant visible intelligence is going on. 

 How much insensible intercourse takes place we 

 know not, but we can comprehend its agency by the 

 effects and events that manifest themselves. Our 

 country people think these te rokings" (reekings) 

 of the earth greatly favourable to the growth of 

 vegetation, supposing it occasioned by the internal 

 heat of the earth producing a vapour like that from 

 fermenting soil, thus warming the roots : but if the 

 theory be defective, the fact may be true, by the 

 caloric in the sun's rays promoting the decomposi- 

 tion of the water, or separating the component parts 

 (oxygen and hydrogen), which, uniting with other 

 matters contained in the earth and atmosphere 

 (carbon and carbonic acid), become, by this means, 

 the basis of all our fruits, our sweets, our sours, 

 resins, &c., in the vegetable world ; and hence 



