

Philofophical History of Plants. 23 
bable, that it is diflolved in the Atther,as other Salts are in Water, or in 
the Vaporousparts ofthe Aer. As alfo to try, what different Effeds, a 
diverfity of der may have upon a Vegetable as by fetting a Plant,or Seed, 
either exceeding Low, as at the bottom of a deep Well; or exceeding 
High, as on the top ofa Steeple. Or elfe by expofing fome Soil to the 
Aer, whichis afluredly free from any Seed, and fo, as no Seed can light 
upon it 5 and to obferve, whether the Aer hath a power of producing 
a Vegetable therein, or not : and the like. 
61. §. Laftly of the su; asto which, it may be confidered, What 
Influence it may have upon the Plavt,it felf ; upon the Soil, Or upon 
the Aer, Whether that Influence is any thing elfe befides Heat : or may 
differ from that of a Fire, otherwife, than by being Temperate, and 
more Equal. That it doth, feems evident from an Experiment fometime 
fince given us, in one of the Parifjan Fournals des Scavans,and which 1 
therefore think very applicable to our prefent purpofe. If you kolda 
Concaveat a due diftance, againft a Fire, it will collect and caftthe Heat 
into a burning Focws: but ifyou put a peice of plain Glaf§ between 
them, the Glafs will {catter the Heat, and deftroy the Focus. Whereas 
the Sin-Beams, being gathered in like manner, will pafs through the in- 
terpofed Glafs, and maintain their Focws. Asfor That, of the Colledti- 
on of the Su-beams, by the help of Glafes, in the fotm of a Magiitery, 
orof Flowers, and fuch like, Idefire to fafpend my thoughts of them, 
till [fee them.. I will only fay thusmuch further at prefent, That I do 
not underftand why the Suz fhould not have fome Influence upon Bo- 
dies, befides by Heat, ifit may be granted, That the Moon hath 3 for 
which, it fhould feem, there are fome good Arguments. : 
62. §. WE HAVE thus far examined the Principles neceflaty to A Sixth Ges 
Vegetation. The Queffion may be put once more; In what manner are D4! MGR: 
thefe Principles fo adapted, as to become capable of being aflembled to- Only hinted, 
gether, in fuch a Number, Conjugatiow, Proportion, and ‘Union; as to 
make a Vegetable Body 2 Forthe comprehenfion whereof, we mutt alfo 
know,Whatarethe Principles of thefe Principles. Which; although they 
lie info great anaby@ of ob{curity 5 yet, I think, have fome reafon to be- 
lieve, that they are not altogether undifcoverable. How far they may 
be fo, lam fo far from Determining; that 1 fhall not now Conjecture, 












63. §. THIS isthe Defign, and thefe the Means Ipropofe in order The Con: 
thereunto. To which, I fuppofe, they may all appear to be neceflary, clufions 
For what we obtain of Nature, we mutt not do it by commanding,but 
by courting of Her. Thofe that woo Her, may poflibly have her for 
their Wife ; but She is not fo common, as to proftitute her {elf to the 
beft behaved Wit, which only praétifeth upon it felf, and is not appli- 
ed toher. Imean,that where ever Men will go beyond Phanfie and 
Imagination; depending upon the Conduct of Divine Wifdomthey mult 
Labour, Hope and Perfevere. And as the Afeans propounded, are all 
neceflary, fo they may,in {ome meafure, prove effectual. How far, I 
promife not 5 the Way is long and dark: and as Travellers fometimes 
among({t Mountains, by gaining the top of one; are fo far from their 
Journeys end; that they only come to fee another lies before them : 
fo the Way of Nature, is fo itipervious; and, as I may fay, down Hill 
and up Hill; that how far foever we go, yet the furmounting of one 
difficulty, is wont ftill to give us the profpes of another, We may 
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