Vegetable Statkks. 35 



a fufficient quantity, to keep the hops in 

 a healthy ftate; but in a rainy moift ftate 

 of air, without a due mixture of dry wea- 

 ther, too much moifture hovers about the 

 hops, fo as to hinder in a good meafure the 

 kindly perfpiration of the leaves, whereby 

 the ftagnating fap corrupts, and breeds mol- 

 dy fen, which often fpoils vaft quantities of 

 flourifhing hop-grounds. This was the cafe 

 in the year 1723, when 10 or 14 days al- 

 moft, continual rains fell, about the latter 

 half of Jul)', after four months dry weather; 

 upon which the moft flourishing and pro- 

 mifing hops were all infected with mold or 

 fen, in their leaves and fruit, while the then 

 poor and unpromifing hops efcaped, and oro- 

 duced plenty; becaufe they being fmali, did 

 not perfpire fo great a quantity as the others; 

 nor did they confine the perfpired vapour, io 

 much as the large thriving vines did, in their 

 fhady thickets.. 



This rain on the then warm earth made 

 the grafs (hoot out as fa ft as if it were in a 

 hot-bed ; and the apples grew fo precipi- 

 tately, that they were of a very flaflry confu- 

 tation, fo as to rot more remarkably than 

 had ever been remembred. 



D The 



