[ xxxiv ] 



is by no means owing to the vegetation 

 of the plant \ but to the influence of 

 the light of the fun upon the plant < 

 I found that plants have, moreover, a 

 mofl fur prizing faculty of elaborating 

 the air which they contain, and un- 

 doubtedly abforb continually from the 

 common atmofphere, into real and fine 

 dephlogifticated air ; that they pour 

 down continually, if I may fo exprefs 

 myfelf a fhower of this depurated air? 

 which j diffufing itf elf through the com- 

 mon rnafs of the atmofphere, contri- 

 but,es to render it more Jit for animal 

 life ; that this operatiofi is far from 

 being carried on conftantly, but begins 

 only after the fun has for fome time 

 made his appearance above the ho- 

 rizon, and has, by his influence, pre- 

 pared the plants to begin anew 

 their beneficial operation upon the air^ 

 and thus upon the animal creation^ 



which 



