The PREFACE. iv 
As the art of Vhyfick has of late years been 
much improved by a greater knowledge of the 
animal economy 5 fo doubt lefs a farther infight 
into the vegetable (economy mu(i needs pro- 
portionably improve our skill in Agriculture 
and Gardenings which gives me reafon to 
hopes that inquiries of this kind will be ac- 
ceptable to manys who are intent upon impro- 
ving thofe innocents delightfuls and beneficial 
Arts : Since they cannot be infenfible that the 
moji rational ground for Succefs in this lau- 
dable purfuit mujl arife from a greater in- 
fight into the nature of Plants. 
Finding by many Experiments in the fifth 
chapters that the Air is plentifully infpired 
by VegetableSs not only at their rootSs but 
alfo thro' fever al parts of their Trunks and 
Branches j this put me upon making a more 
particular inquiry into the nature of the Air % 
and to difcover, if pojfibles wherein its great 
importance to the life and fupport of Vege- 
tables might confijl j on which account I was 
obliged to delay the publication of the refi of 
thefe Experime7itSs which were read two years 
fince before the Royal Society s till I had made 
fome progrefs in this inquiry. An account of 
which I have given in the [ixth chapter, 
I Where 
