ra + ¥ } 
* 
POMONA: Or, 
I CAN’T fee wherein the Philofophy of thefe Gentlemen confifts, 
for the Salt of Vegetables is volatile;. and not a grofs Body, and 
therefore has no occafion of a Diflolution to prepare its Parts fit for the 
Nourifhment of Plants. 
AND again, if this vegetative Salt were contained in the Earth, why 
then in very hot and dry Seafons, when no Rains fall in the Space of 
fix or feven Weeks, and the Earth becomes fo dry as to be unfit for Vege- 
tation, the Plants thereof muft perifh : Becaufe that the Dews (tho’ 
perhaps very great) are of themfelves incapable of penetrating the Earth 
deep enough to diffolve the Salt therein contained ; which they fay mutt 
be diffolved, before it can do any Thing neceflary to a new Produétion. 
But on the contrary, ‘tis feen that Plants do not-perifh, but oftentimes 
make new Produétions in thofe very dry Seafons, which is a convincing 
Proof that their nutritive Sale muft be contained in the Dews, which 
are then their ‘chief Support, and not in the dry Earth, which is then 
renderd nearly incapable of Aétion. : 
IF thefe Gentlemen had made Experiments of their. own, and ftri& 
Refearches into the wonderful Operations of Nature, they might have dif- 
coverd many of her furprizing Ways of working. 
THEY might have feen what Preparations are made in the Leaves, 
Buds, and Barks of Vegetables, to imbibe Nourifhment from. Dews, 
when their Roots are incapable of communicating any, as well as to 
perfpire it away when plentifully fupplied therewith: For all the Moifture 
imbibed. by Trees, oc. at their Roots, is not wholly imploy’d in 
making of Sap, forming new Buds, Branches, ¢9c. as is generally be- 
lieved—(But this I fhall fully handle in its Place)—They would alfo have 
known the great Power that Air hath on the Growth of Vegetables ; 
how it ftrongly attraéts when in a fix’d State, and repels in an elaftick 
State : How it helps to diftend their tender ductile Parts, and invigorates 
their Sap : And how, by. its mixing with the other Principles, they. are 
thereby affimulated into the Nourifhment of the feveral Parts of the Ve- 
getable, whereby its Growth is carried on to the greateft Maturity : How 
the Growth of Vegetables is perform’d by the infinite Combinations, 
Action and Re-aétion of their Principles; and that the volatile Sale, 
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