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It is salt which fertilizes and renders Egypt so luxuriously fruitful afterthe inundations of the Nile; and the nitrous grounds of Jamaica , andother places, cause a stupendous growth of plants and trees,
It is the want of salt which emasculates the virtue of seeds too longmacerated in hungry water, and renders floated wood such unprofitablefuel, and to turn into such insipid ashes ; and whatsoever it be some plantsmay appear to affect, as to the external differences of appetite, some ofthem seeming to draw in more air, some Earth , and others water in ex-traordinary measure, according to the several contextures of their parts,or bv whatever magnetisms and attractives, it is still to come at their salts,which doubtlefs create that inclination, and compose the various saps andjuices which they present us. Nay, what if I should say that all the se-veral parts of vegetables were endowed with their peculiar and distinctsalts, through different motions, complications, and percolations ? Or,that so many Earths, so many kinds of salts digested and transported by
their different vehicles and strainers ; and those also, though, unlike inquality, yet perfectly congruous to what they produce and nourish ? Butwhat this vehicle or menstruum is, I contend not. It is evident that saltsunite best with water, vernal and autumnal showers and dews, as themost apt to convey their insinuations. You know, who have dignifiedsalt with the prerogative of being named Element-Earth, the vigour andclose of all things ; yea, the first and last of elementated bodies. Whatshall I say, Quid Divinum ! the original of all fecundity ; nor can I saylefs, since there was nor sacrifice, nor discourse, acceptable without it.And verily, upon serious contemplation of the premises, and the littleexperience I have had of their effefts in this work of vegetation, as far asI am able to penetrate into causes by them, I am not displeased at themagnificent epithets which are given it. In the mean time, I know therebe who are so averse to this doctrine, as to prefer water alone before it;4ior contend I with them, so they allow the near affinity and friendship•which is between them, as I have deduced it at the entry of this Discourse,where I describe my Autoptical Observations of the several Earths : all•that I pretend from hence being only to excite us to make diligent inquirywhat may more likely be the cause of vegetation, and whether salt havenot a dominion almost monarchiai in this great work of Nature, beirw so
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