2^8 Mifcellanea Curiofa. 



fin u ate tbemfelves into Cords, however tightly 

 twifted, into Leather, Parchment, Vegetable 

 Bodies, Wood, and the like. This it is that 

 fits them for Hygrometers j and to meafure and 

 determine the different quantities of Moifture 

 in the Air, in different Places and Seafons. 

 How freely Water pafles and carries with it 

 Terreftrial Matter, through Filtres , Cola- 

 tures, DiftilJations, &c. hath been intimated al- 

 ready. 



8. Water is not capable of performing this Of- 

 fice to Plants, unlefs ajfifted by a due Quantity of 

 Heat , and this muft concur, or Vegetation will not 

 fucceed. The Plants that were let in the Glaffes 

 Qj R, S, &c. in October, and the following 

 colder Months, had not near the quantity of 

 Water fent up into them, or fo great an ad- 

 ditional Encreafe by much, as thofe that were 

 let in June, July* and the hotter. 5 Tis plain 

 Water has no power of moving it felf ; or ri- 

 fing to the vaft height it does in the more 

 tall and lofty Plants. So far from this, that 

 it does not appear from any DifcoVery yet 

 made, that even its own Fluidity confifts in 

 the inteftine Motion of its Parts • whatever 

 fome, otherwife very learned and knowing, Per- 

 fbns may have thought. There is no need of 

 any thing more, for folving all the Phenome- 

 na of Fluidity, than fuch a Figure and Difpo- 

 fition of the Parts, as Water has. Corpulcles 

 of that make, and that are all abfolutely Sphe- 

 rical, muft ftand fo very tickle and nicely 

 upon each other, as to be fulceptihle of every 

 Impreffion ; and though not perpetually in Mo- 

 tion, yet muft be ever ready and liable to be put 



