on the ingrafting of Fruit-Trees, 389 
rejected without the fulleft enquiry ; and efpecially, fince a know- 
ledge of the laws of vegetation is one of the moft interefting mat- 
ters which can be the fubject of difcuffion : for on vegetation 
depends our being ; and in the fame proportion as we obtain a 
knowledge thereof, and practife on that knowledge, in that 
proportion is our well-being promoted. That cultivation pro- 
motes vegetation, I think, none will deny: for furely the earth, 
fpontaneoufly, gives us but a bare fubfiftence. The reafons af- 
figned, why the earth did not more early bear fruit, were, be- 
caufe there was no rain on the earth, and becaufe there was no 
man to till the ground.—The neceffity of which feems to have 
produced one of the firft decrees from heaven to man, even while 
he was in Eden, furrounded with all the bleffings thereof, 
that he fhould drefs the garden. Whether tilling and dreffing 
the earth fo prepares its parts that they became proper food for the 
plant, and thereby promote vegetation ;—whether, by tilling and 
dreffing, the land is fitted properly to receive the rays of the 
fun, and to receive and retain a fuitable quantity of water, with 
which food for the plant is fuppofed, by fome, to fall ;—or 
whether, by tilling and drefling, the land does really partake 
of more particles neceflary to vegetation, and fo attracts like 
particles floating i in the air, as fimilar bodies attra& each other, 
arid fo light on, and feed the plant in their fall, or do reft on 
the earth, are abforbed by the roots, and thence conveyed thro’ 
the whole plant, are queftions which can, I think, be deter- 
mined with more eafe and greater certainty when the prineiples 
of vegetation are fully afcertained. 
Pleafe to favour me with the refult of your enquiries on thefe 
matters, and it will much oblige him who has the honour to 
be, &c. B LINCOLI 
Hon. Gen. Warren, OT AB 
