7% Mr. JefTop to Mr. Ray. 



or a Colour fomeching inclining to red 3 (for you 

 will find a Variety almoft in every Experiment you 

 fktli make j) yet I intend not thereby, that the Rule 

 fhould be fo general as to admit of no Exceptions. 

 And yet I believe, that if the Experiment be made 

 with Care, there will be found fewer Exceptions 

 than you will be apt at firft to imagine. I believe 

 Dr. Hulfe's Experiment upon Cichory Flowers might 

 have the Succefs you relate : For the Juices of all 

 Flowtrs are included in a Membrane, which fome 

 Spirits, akho' they feem very acid, yet may not pierce, 

 and fo not work the Effect upon the included Juice. 

 To confirm this, 1 remember that once we put either 

 Borage or Cichory Flowers, I cannot well tell which, 

 into cold Vinegar, and we could not perceive the 

 Colour to alter, altho' we let it Hand for a confide- 

 rable time ; but heating the fame Vinegar, and put- 

 ting other Flowers in, they immediately changed, the 

 Heat, as I fuppofe, foftening the Membrane, and fo 

 opening a Paflage for the Vinegar into the Juice. 

 Mr. BoyVs Experiments were made upon exprelled 

 Juices, either in Glafs- Vials, which quettioniefs is 

 the beft way, or by feruling the Flower, and ltain- 

 ing a white Paper with the juice. Thole Trials he 

 made by the Infufion of the Flowers themfelves, 

 fometimes fucceeded, and fometimes not. But I do 

 not value any Exception made againit the Rule, if it 

 be grounded upon either of theie two latter Ways of 

 Examination ; for if in a great Glafs full of Juice of 

 Betony you can perceive but a very light Veftigium 

 of Rednefs, altho' you hold it fo, that. the Rays of 

 Light are refra&ed through the whole Mafs j what 

 can we then expe£i to fee in a Paper {lightly moiften- 

 ed with that Juice, or a thin Leaf of a Flower ? You 

 may fatisfy your felf, that Spirit of Salt hath turned 

 blue Juices red, if you pleafe to confult Mr.noyfs 

 Book of Colours: Part 3. Fxpenment zo. and 

 zi . There you will fee it hath changed Syrup of 



Violets,* 



/ 



