396 NOVUM ORGANUM. 



ill-observed by chemists, in their trial of elementary bodies, that 

 sulphur and mercury permeate everything. (For their views con 

 cerning salt are foolish, being introduced to enable them to compre 

 hend bodies of an earthy, dry, and fixed nature.) But certainly in the 

 two former there seems to be distinguishable one of the most general 

 consents in Nature. For sulphur agrees with oil, with fatty exha 

 lations, with flame, and perhaps with the body of a star. On the 

 other hand, mercury agrees with water and watery vapours, with air, 

 and perhaps with the pure ether existing among the stars. Still these 

 two quarternions, or great tribes of things (each in its order) differ in 

 quantity and density of matter, but agree very closely in structure, as 

 appears in very many instances ; while different metals agree pretty 

 much in quantity and density (especially when compared with vege 

 tables, &c.), but differ much in structure. In like manner different 

 vegetables and animals vary almost infinitely in structure, but, as 

 regards quantity or density of matter, lie within very few degrees of 

 one another. 



Next follows that agreement which is most universal after the 

 former, viz., that of principal bodies and their supports, that is, their 

 menstrua and aliments. And so inquiry must be made under what 

 climates, in what earth, and at what depth each metal is generated ; 

 and similarly of gems, whether found in rocks or among minerals ; 

 and in what soil each kind of tree, shrub, and herb most flourishes and 

 rejoices : and at the same time what method of fertilization, either by 

 manure of any kind, or by chalk, sea-sand, ashes, &c., is most 

 beneficial, and the special adaptation of these to the various soils. 

 Again, the budding and grafting of trees, and the method in each 

 case ; for instance, what plants are best grafted upon what, c., 

 depends much upon sympathy. Under which head it would not be 

 inappropriate to make the experiment, which we have heard has been 

 lately tried, of engrafting forest trees (a practice hitherto confined to 

 fruit trees), whereby the leaves and fruit are greatly enlarged, and the 

 trees become more shady. Similarly the nourishment of animals 

 must be respectively noted /// gcnere, and with their negations. For 

 herbs will not sustain carnivorous animals. Whence the order of 

 Vegetarians (though in man the will has more power over the body 

 than in other animals) has, after due trial, as they say, almost dis 

 appeared, their system proving intolerable to human nature. Also the 

 different materials of putrefaction, whence animalcuhc are generated, 

 are to be observed. 



The agreements of principal bodies with their subordinates (for such 

 these which we have noted may be considered) are sufficiently clear. 

 To which may be added the agreements of the senses with their objects. 

 And since these agreements are very manifest, if they be well noted 

 and keenly examined, they may cast great light on other kinds of 

 agreement which are latent. 



Hut the inner agreements and aversions of bodies, or friendships 

 and strifes (for we are almost weary of the words sympathy and anti 

 pathy, on account of the superstitions and vanities connected with 



