10 
POMONA: @; 
and perfpired by Plants. 
I weighed a Cubical Foot of Rain Water, and found its Weight to 
be nearly 50 Pounds Averdupois, which is very little more than half 
the fpecifick Gravity of Earth: But Spring-water 1s oftentimes fomething 
heavier, according to the different Nature of the Earth or Mineral from 
which it {prings. 
AFTER thefe three feveral Cubick Feet of Earth were weighed, they 
were laid thin, that their Moifture might be the fooner exhaled ; and 
‘twas found, that when the firft Cubick Foot was become fo dry and ~ 
dufty as to be unfit for Vegetation, it had loft fix Pounds + eleven 
Ounces of Water, which is near one Eight Part of its firft Bulk. 
THE {econd Cubick Foot being not fo dry when the firft was weighed, 
was left fome Days longer, and being then weighed, had loft ten Pounds 
of its Weight. 
THE third Cubick Foot being very dry, had loft eight Pounds + eight 
Ounces, viz. one Seventh Part of its firft Bulk. | 
FROM thefe Experiments it appears, That the fecond Cubick Foot 
decreafed in Weight the moft, (but indeed ‘twas fome fmall Matter dryer 
than either the firft or third) and confequently contained as much or more 
Moifture than chat next below it. And ‘tis obferveable, that the Roots 
of mof Plants that are of a large and quick Growth, poffes that 
| Depth, probably, becaufe in that Depth the Juices are -meliorated and 
made fitter for the Nourifhment of Plants, than thofe that are deeper, 
_ which, for want of the genial Heat of the Sun (being crude and un- 
prepared) are unfit for the Support of Vegetables. 
BUT notwithftanding that the Moifture in the three next lower 
Strata’s is not fo well prepared for the Nourifhment of Plants ; yet’tis 
abfolutely neceflary that ir fhould be there in Store, to fucceed that 
which is imbibed and perfpired away by Plants, as they advance in Growth: 
- For if there was not a Succeffion of Moifture conftantly alcending, 
*ewould be impoffible for Plants to live in very dry Seafons; which will 
appear when I come to demonftrate the Quantities of Moifture imbibed 
2 AND 
