222 Of Change of Species. Chap. XIV. 



that Water, being itfelf but mere homogenial Matter, 

 void of all Degrees of- Life, mould diftinguifh each 

 Particle of vegetable Matter, proper and peculiar to 

 every different Species of Plants, which are innumera- 

 ble ; and when 'tis to act for the Wheat, to find out 

 all the Particles proper to that fort of Grain, to roufe 

 only thofe particular Sluggards from their Beds of 

 Earth, letting all the reft lie quiet and undifturbed 

 the while. This Agent frees the Wheat- Particles 

 from their Confinement, and conveys, introduces, and 

 diftributes them, and only them, into the feveral 

 Farts of the Wheat. 



Since 'tis unreafonable to believe, that Water can 

 have fuch extraordinary Skill in Botany, or in Micro- 

 graphy, as to be qualified for a furncient Agent in 

 fuch an abftrufe Matter, I conceive Water to be on- 

 ly an Inff.ru ment or Vehicle, which takes up indiffe- 

 rently any Particles it meets with (and is able to carry), 

 and advances them (or the Pabulum they yieldj up 

 into the Firft Plant, whofe Root it comes in Con- 

 tact with •, and that every Plant it meets with does 

 accept thereof, without diftinguifhing any different 

 Sorts or Properties in them, until they be fo far in- 

 troduc'd and advanc'd up into the vegetable Veffels, 

 that it would be in vain to diftinguifh them ; for 

 whether the terreftrial Matter, Plants imbibe with 

 the Water, will kill or nourifh them, appears by its 

 Effects; but which cannot be foreknown or prevented 

 without the Help of Faculties, which Plants are not 

 endow'd with. 



Mr. Bradley feems to have carried this Error farther 

 than any Author ever did before; but he fupports it 

 by Affirmations only, or by fuch Arguments (I can- 

 not fay Reafons-, for no Reafon can be againft any 

 Truth) as go near to confute the very Opinion he 

 pretends to advance by them. 



He afcribes to Vegetables the Senfe of Tafte, by 

 which he thinks they take fuch Nourifhment as is 



moft 



