( 193 ) 
IL Some Thoughts and Experiments Concerning 
Vegetation. By John Woodward, M, D. 
of the College of Phyfciansy &^ R. S. &^ Pro- 
fejfor of Pkyjick /;^*Grefham- College. 
'T"^ HE Ancients generally intituled the Earth to the 
Jl^ Produdlion of the Animals^ Vegetables^ and other 
Bodies upon and about it : and for that reafon 'twas that 
they gave it fo frequently the Epithets of Parent and 
Mother They were of opinion that it furnifhed forth * Terra Pa- 
the Matter whereof thofe Bodies confift : and recei- r"^/^/;- 
ved it all back again at their DifTolutibn for the Conipo- '^elZ'^Mat'er. 
fure of others. Even thofe who afferted four Elements^ 
fuppofed that the Earth was the Matter that Conjlituted 
thofe Bodies : and that Water and the refl^ ferved only 
for the Conveyance and Dijiribution of that Matter^ in 
order to iht forming and compoftion of them. 'Tis true, 
ThaleSy a Philofopher of the firft rank in thofe early 
Ages, has been thought to have Sentiments very different 
from thefe ; but that without juft Grounds; as I think 
I have fufficiently proved in another Paper, which I am 
ready to produce. 
But tho' Antiquity thus gave its Vote ioxTerreftrialMat^ 
ter, feveral of the Moderns^ and fome of very great 
Name too, both here and abroad^ have gone quite Coun- 
ter, and given theirs in behalf of Water. The dignity 
of the Perfons that have efpoufed it, as well as their num- 
ber^ renders this Dodrine very confiderable, and well 
worth our enquiring into. The great reftorer of Philo- 
fophy in this laft Age, my Lord Bacon, is of opinion. 
That for Nourtjhment of Vegetables, the Water is almoji 
all in all: and that the Earth doth but keep the Plant up^ 
rights and fave it from over heat, and over cold -f-. Others f i^at. mj}, 
there are who are ftill more exprefs : and alTert Water ^^'^^•S-U^' 
F f * to 
