146 Of Blight. Chap. XI. 



the Dews, that would Hop in the Recrements at the 

 VeficuU of the Leaves, but maken down will nourifh 

 the Plants at the Roots: The want of this Motion 

 weakening the Wheat, 'tis (as Animals in the like 

 fickly Cafe are) the more unable to (land, and the 

 more liable to be prefs'd down by the Weight of Rain- 

 water, and more unable to rife up again when down : 

 All which Evils are remov'd by the free Motion of 

 the Air, which makes off both Dews and Rains, and 

 thus contributes to prevent the falling (or lodging) of 

 Wheat. 



A great Quantity alfo of the Sun's Rays is necef- 

 fary to keep Wheat ftrong, and in Health ; and in 

 Egypt, and other hot Countries, it is not fo apt to fall, 

 as it is when fown in Northern Climates, tho' the 

 Produce of the South be the greateft (a). 



It may be obferv*d, that every Leaf is inferted 

 into a Sort of Knot, which probably delivers the Sap 

 to be depurated at the Veficula of the Leaves, and 

 then receives it back again for the Nourimment of 

 the Plant, doing for that Purpofe the Office of an 

 Heart : But the Sun with his Rays fupplies the Part 

 of Pulfe, to keep the Sap in Motion, and carry on 

 its Circulation, inflead of the Heart's Syftole and 

 Diaftole. Wheat, being doubtlefs originally a "Native 

 of a hot Country, requires by its Conftitution a con- 

 fiderable Degree of Heat to bring it to Perfection ; 

 and if much of that Degree be wanting, the Wheat 

 will be the weaker ; and when the Solar Rays cannot 

 reach the lower Parts of the Stalks, the lowed Leaves 

 and Knots cannot do their Office •, for which Reafon 

 the Chyle mud mount higher before it be made into 

 Sap, and there mult be then a greater Mixture of 

 crude Chyle next to the Ground, as by the white 



{a) This proves that the Crop doth not lodge on account of 

 its Bignefs. 



Colour 



