es EARTH, &c.

homogeneous , fluid Matter, (diversified only by Shape, Size, Motion ,R g pofe, and various Texture of the minute Particles it consists of;and from which Affections of Matter, the divers Qualities result of par-ticular Bodies;) what may not Mixture, and an attent Inspection intothe Anatomical Parts of the vegetable Family in time produce, for*>ur composing of all forts of Moulds and Soils almost imaginable,which is the Drift of my present Discourse? And why might not Solo-won by this means have really had all kinds of Plants in his incompa-tible Gardens? even Ebony, Cloves , Cinnamon, and from the Cedart0 the Shrub , such as grew only in the remotest Regions; furnished(as he doubtless was) with so extraordinary an Insight into all naturalThings and Powers for the composing of Earths, and assigning themtheir proper Mixtures and Ferments. I do not here enquire, whether 4there be not a ‘Pan/perme universally diffused, individuated, and spe-cified in their several Matrixes and Receptacles pro ratione mixti (asthey speak) but I think there might very unexpected Phanomena bebrought to light in vegetable Productions, did Men seriously applythemselves to make such possible Trials, as is in the Power of Art toeffect; and how far Soils may be dissembled, and the Air and Waterattempered, (at least for some Curiosities, which may give light toMore useful things) I do not conclude; but I should expect very rareand considerable things from an attentive and diligent Endeavour. Tothis end, the raising of artificial 'Dews and Mifts , impregnated withseveral Qualities, for the more natural Refreshment of Exotic Plants,were, it may be, no hard matter to effect; no more than were the Mo-dification of the Air abroad, as well as in our more confined Reserves,where we set them in for Hyemation , and during the most rigorousColds. As for Mixtures of Earths ; Plants, we know, are nourishedby things of like Affinity with the Constitution of the Soil which pro-duces them; and therefore stis of singular Importance, to be well readin the Alphabet of Earths and Compofts : For, as we have said, Plantsaffect the Marjh, Bog, Mountain, Valley, Sand, Gravel, fat and leanMould, according'to their Tempers; and for want of Skill in this, thefame Plant not only languishes and starves, but some we find to growso luxuriant, as to change their very Shapes, Colours, Leaves, Roots,and other Parts, and to grow almost out of knowledge of the skilful-lest Pythologifis ; not here to speak of what Alterations do accruehorn transplanting and Irrigations alone. I mention this, to incite theCurious to essay artificial Compositions in defect of the natural Soil;to make new ConfeElions of Earths and Moulds for the entertaining ofthe most generous and profitable Plants, as well as curious; especiallyif, as I hinted, we could skill to modify also the Air about them, andmake the Remedy as well regional as topical ; and why not for otherFruits (Strangers yet amongst us) as for Oranges , Lemons, Pomegra -nats, Figs, and other precious Trees, which of late are become almostendenizon’d amongst us, and grow every Generation more reconcileableto our Climate? For (according to * Theophrastus ) ’tis not the excessiveFatness and Richness of the Soil, which invites these Exotics and Va-rieties to stay with us, or indeed any other Plants to prosper, but some-thing whsch is connatural and suitable to the Species.

Here we might enlarge upon the several Enquiries formerly suggest-a ,' ' As ? h°w far Principles might be multiplied, and differenced byAlteration and Condensation ? Whether Earth, stripp’d of all Hetero-geneity

it

* 'Hyri mete*Tmpmiv ithvi

rj£v. Thcoph.I. L. c.