5*4 Lifter to Mr. Ray. 



placet $) five eft qua dam intus lanigera fertilitas. My 

 Senfe I have fet down among the Queries I fent 

 Mr. OUenburgh, Here is a fair Hint for the darting 

 of Threads, if it be not abiolutely fo to be under- 

 flood } but for their failing and mounting up into the 

 Air^ as yet 1 find the Ancients were filent, and I 

 think I was the firft who acquainted you with it; 

 but that is beft known to your felf, and I challenge 

 it only by way of Emulation, not Envy, there being 

 nothing more likely, than that feveral Perfons follow- 

 ing the fame Studies, may many of them light upon 

 one and the fame Obfervation. I am no Arcana Man, 

 and methinks I would have every body free and com- 

 municative, that we may (if poffible, confidering 

 the Shortnefs of our Lives) participate with Poite- 

 rity. 



Mr. Ray's Anfiver to Dr. Lifter** lafi. 



Mo ft dear Friend , Middleten^ April 15. 1671 . 



Since the Receipt of your laft, I have fallen into 

 a Feverifh Di Item per, which is now turned to 

 the Yellow Jaundice - y a Difeafe wherewith I was ne- 

 ver before acquainted. It has not proceeded to any 

 great Height, and hath render'd me rather indifpos'd 

 and liftlefs, than fick. I hope it is now leaving of 

 me. This h^th taken me quite off making any far- 

 ther Experiments upon Trees : But yet I mud ac- 

 quaint you, that upon careful and exa£b Trial made 

 in Branches of Walnut, Birch, Sycamore, and Wil- 

 low, cut off, and held perpendicularly the cut End 

 downwards, we found that they would all bleed en- 

 tire as they were, without topping the Twigs at all* 

 neither could we find that topping of them did fen- 

 fibly promote their Bleeding. As for Willow, we 



obferved, 



