2So SOILS, MANURES, See. 
—.. .. ... . ■ ■. — ; 
atmofphere, and return to the earth in 
the form of rain. 
Rain and fnow waters are foft, and 
contain a frnall proportion of falts and 
oil ; they putrify fooner than fpring or 
hard water, which is probably occafioned 
by their containing more oil, and being 
free from any mineral or metallic acid. 
Hard fpring waters generally contain 
a mineral acid, which is extremely inju¬ 
rious to delicate plants ; it hardens their 
fibres, and coagulates their juices in a 
great degree, and afls as a poifon to fuch. 
Some waters are rendered hard by 
being impregnated with the nitrous acid : 
thefe contain a calcareous earthy bafe, 
by which the acid has been attrafted ; 
they are thereby rather improved than 
injured by their hardnefs: but fuch are 
feldom found in any gravelly foil, or in 
fuch as abounds with metallic fubftances. 
<. A fuf* 
