Of Vegetation. 321 



fulphur and air, as we fee by Exper. $6, 

 57 > 58. which Seeds containing the rudi- 

 ments of future vegetables, it was necefTary 

 that they fhould be well ftored with princi- 

 ples that would both preferve the Seed from 

 putrefaction, and alio be very aclive in pro- 

 moting germination and vegetation. Thus 

 alfo by the grateful odours of flowers we 

 are affured, that they are ftored with a very 

 fubtile, highly fublimedOil, which perfumes 

 the ambient air, and the fame may be ob- 

 served from the high taftes of fruits, 



And as Oil is an excellent preservative 

 againft the injuries of cold, fo it is found 

 to abound in the fap of the more northern 

 trees 5 and it is this which in ever greens 

 keeps their leaves from failing. 



But plants of a lefs durable texture, as 

 they abound with a greater proportion of 

 Salt and Water, which is not fo ftrongly 

 attracting as fulphur and air, fo are they lefs 

 able to endure the cold 5 and as plants are 

 obferved to have a greater proportion of Salt 

 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 advanced 



Y age, 



