322 Of Vegetation. 



with oil, and confequently with fulphur and 

 air, as we fee by Experiment 56. 57. 58. 

 Which feeds containing the rudiments of 

 future Vegetables, it was neceffary that they 

 mould be well ftored with principles that 

 would both preferve the feed from putre- 

 faction, and alfo be very active in promoting 

 Germination and Vegetation. Thus alfo by 

 the grateful odours of flowers we are affured, 

 that they are ftored with a very fubtile, highly 

 fublimed oil, which perfumes the ambient 

 air ; and the fame may be obferv'd from the 

 high taftes of fruits. 



And as Oil is an excellent prefervative 

 againft the injuries of cold, fo it is found 

 to abound in the fap of the more northern 

 trees; and it is this which in Ever-greens 

 keeps their leaves from falling. 



But plants of a lefs durable texture, as 

 they abound with a greater proportion of 

 fait and water, which is not fo ftrongly at- 

 tracting as fulphur and air, fo are they lefs 

 able to endure the cold; and as plants are 

 obferved to have a greater proportion of fait 

 and water in them in the fpring, than in 

 the autumn, fo are they more eafily injured 



by cold in the fpring, than in a more ad- 

 vanced 



