22 1 Mijcellanea Curiofa. 



and other mineral Salts ; of which indeed I am 

 not fo far fatisfied, that I can depend on the 

 Thing, and therefore give this only as an hint 

 for Enquiry. 



To go on with the Vegetable Matter, how 

 apt and how much difpofed this* being fo ve- 

 ry fine end light, is to attend Water in all 

 Its Motions , and follow it into each of its 

 RecefTes, is manifeft, not only from the In- 

 ftances above alledg'd, but many others. Per- 

 colate it withal the Care imaginable : Fil- 

 ter it with never fo many Filiations , yet 

 fbme Terreftrial Matter will remain. 'Tis 

 true, the Fluid will be thinner every time 

 than other, and more difingaged of the laid 

 Matter 5 but never wholly free and clear. I 

 have filtred Water thorough feveral wholly 

 free and clear Sheets of thick Paper ; and, af- 

 ter that, through very clofe fine Cloth twelve 

 times doubled. Nay, I have done this over 

 and over ; and yet a confiderable quantity of 

 this Matter difcover'd it felf in the Water af- 

 ter all. Now if it thus pafs Interfaces, that 

 are fo very fmall and fine along with the Wa- 

 ter, 'tis the lefs ftrange it fcould attend it in 

 its paffage through the Du£h and VelTels of 

 Plants. 'Tis true, filtering and diftilling of 

 Water intercepts and makes it quit fome of 

 the Earthy Matter it was before impregnated 

 withal : But then that which continues with 

 the Water after this, is fine and . light ; and 

 fuch conlequently, as is in a peculiar man- 

 ner fit for the Growth and Nourifhment of 

 Vegetables. And this is the Cafe of Rain- 

 water. The Quantity of Terreftrial Matter 

 it bears up into the Atmofphere, is not great.- 



