26 



A DISCOURSE 



BOOK I. fied, if election be made, as best to suit with the nature of the species, 

 they may be sown promiscuously, which is the most natural and rural ; 

 or in straight and even lines, for hedge-rows, avenues, and walks, which 

 is the more ornamental. 

 AIR. As to the Air and Water, they are certainly of almost as great import- 

 ance to the life and prosperity of trees and vegetables ; and therefore it 

 is to be wished for and sought, (and they commonly follow, or indicate the 

 nature of the soil, or the soil of them,) that they be neitlier too keen or 

 sharp, too cold or hot, not infected with fogs and poisonous vapours, or 

 exposed to sulphurous exhalations, or frigiverous winds, reverberating 

 from hills and other ill-situate eminences, pressing down the incumbent 

 particles so tainted or conveyed through the inclosed vallies ; but such as 

 may gently enter and pervade the cenabs and vessels, destined and ap- 

 pointed for their reception, intromission, respiration, and passage, in 

 almost continual motion : In a word, such as is most agreeable to the life of 

 man, duly qualified with their proper mixts, be it nitre, or any other vege- 

 table matter, though we neither see nor distinctly taste it; nay, so univer- 

 sally pervading and necessary, that all aquatics, how deeply soever 

 submerged, could not subsist without this active element the air. 



WATER. The same qualification is, as we said, required in Water, to which it is 

 of so near alliance, and whose office it is not only to humectate, mollify, 

 and prepare both the seeds and roots of vegetables, to receive the 

 nutrition, pabulum, and food, of which this of water as well as air are 

 the proper vehicles, insinuating what they carry into the numerous pores, 

 and through the tubes, canals, and other emulgent passages and percola- 

 tions to the several vessels, where (as tn a stomach) it is elaborated, 

 concocted, and digested, for distribution through every part of the plant ; 

 and therefore had need be such as should feed, not starve, infect, or 

 corrupt ; which depends upon the nature and quality of the mixed, with 

 what other virtue, spirit, mineral, or other particles, accompanying the 

 purest springs (to appearance) passing- through the closest strainers. 

 This therefore requires due examination, and sometimes exposure to the 

 air and sun, and accordingly the crudity and other defects taken off and 

 qualified : From all which rain-water that has had its natural circulation, 

 is greatly free, so it meets with no noxious vapours in the descent, as it 

 must do passing through clouds of smoke and soot, over and about great 

 cities, and other volcanoes, continually vomiting out their acrimonious, 

 and sometimes pestiferous fervour, infecting the ambient air, as it 



