aao Mifcellanea Curiofa* 



This fo continual an Emiffion and Detach- 

 ment of Water, in fo great Plenty from the 

 Parts of Plants, affords us a manifeft Reafbn 

 why Countries that abound with Trees, and the 

 larger Vegetables efpecially, mould be very ob- 

 noxious to Damps , great Humidity in the 

 Air, and more frequent Rains, than others 

 that are more open and free. The great Moi- 

 fture in the Air, was a mighty inconvenience 

 and annoyance to thole who firft fettled in 

 America ; which at that time was much over- 

 grown with Wpods and Groves. But as thefe 

 were burnt and deftroy'd, to make way for 

 Habitation and Culture of the Earth, the Air 

 mended and clear'd up apace, changing into 

 a Temper much more dry and fcrene than 

 before. 



Nor does this Humidity go off pure and a- 

 lone ; but ufually bears forth with it many Parts 

 of the fame Nature with thofe whereof the Plant, 

 through which it paffes, confifts. The Crajfer 

 indeed are not lb eafily born up into the At- 

 mofphere ; but are ufually depofited on the Sur- 

 face of the Flowers, Leaves, and other Parts of 

 • the Plants : Hence comes our Manna's, our Ho- 

 neys, and other Gummous Exfudations of Ve- 

 getables. But the finer and lighter Parts are 

 with greater eafe lent up into the Atmofphere. 

 Thence they are conveyed to our Organs of 

 Smell, by the Ai? we draw in Refpiration \ and 

 are pleafant or offenfive, beneficent or injurious 

 to us, according to the Nature of the Plants 

 from whence they arife* And fince thefe owe 

 their Rife to the Water, that afcends out of the 

 Earth through the Bodies of Plants, we cannot 

 be far to feek for the Caufe why they are more 



numerous 



