Tthe Tra6tical Kitchen Gardiner, 



folvcs it into vapour i from whence it is 

 (continues he) that fome are almoft dcf- 

 ititute of water, and the fmail quan- 

 tity whicla remains is fait and unplea- 

 fant to the tafte, the fweet particles be- 

 ing drawn off from them. And to this 

 alfo is to be affign'd the faUnc quality 

 of the fea. And thus far this ingenious 

 author. But this feems in a great mea- 

 fure contradidory to what we generally 

 fuppofe to be for the benefit and advan- 

 tage of plants and herbs, fince 'tis ftand- 

 ing-pond-water we covet more than 

 river-water ; but in my opinion, this 

 choice fhould be done with fome judg- 

 ment and care, there being many kinds 

 of water that are in pools, and ftag- 

 iiated and (landing lakes and ponds, that 

 are without doubt as poifonous to herbs 

 and plants, as they are to men, which 

 is the reafon that plants often grow fick, 

 and dwindle away, no body knowing 

 the right caufe 5 but all waters fhould 

 for that reafon be impregnated with 

 dung, fweet earth, chalk, marie, lime, 

 &c, in order to take off from them that 

 noxious quality that by long ufe may- 

 otherwife flarve and poifon their plants 5 

 and this, without donbt, may be a good 

 D 4 prev^ntioa 



