30 A TREATISE ON THE CONNECTION OP 



To this process of oxygenation, the continuance of ve- 

 getable matter on the surface of the earth is principally to 

 be ascribed ; as in the case of peat mosses, fens, and mo- 

 rasses, as well as in most soils, but more especially in 

 such as have long been under cultivation. The inde- 

 strudible state of vegetable matters, under these circum- 

 stances, and their constant accretion, may be referred to 

 the insoluble compounds, produced by the adlion of pure 

 air on these inflammable substances. 



The insolubility, to a certain degree, of this system, 

 •adopted by nature, is undoubtedly to be preferred to one 

 more completely soluble ; for it is evident, that if putie- 

 faclion, or oxygenation, had possessed the power of ren- 

 dering all the vegetable matter, by a speedy process, 

 solubLe in water, two pernicious consequences must 

 have followed.: The rains would have washed down such 

 exlraifts, and soluble matters, as fast as formed, into the 

 rivers and springs, contaminating the waters, and ren- 

 dering them unfit for the existence of fishes, or for the 

 use of terrestrial animals. The sea, in process of time, 

 would thereby receive all the vegetable and animal pro- 

 duce of the dry land, and the earth would ultimately be- 

 come 



