of Water, in so great Plenty from the Parts of Plants, affords us a manifest Reason why Countries that abound with Trees, and the larger Vegetables especially, should be very obnoxious to Damps, great Humidity in the Air, and more frequent Rains, than others that are more open and free. The great Moisture in the Air, was a mighty inconvenience and annoyance to those who first settled in America; which at that time was much overgrown with Woods and Groves. But as these were burnt and destroy'd, to make way for Habitation and Culture of the Earth, the Air mended and clear'd up apace, changing into a Temper much more dry and serene than before.
Nor does this Humidity go off pure and alone; but usually bears forth with it many Parts of the same Nature with those whereof the Plant, through which it passes, consists. The Crasser indeed are not so easily born up into the Atmosphere; but are usually deposited on the Surface of the Flowers, Leaves, and other Parts of the Plants: Hence comes our Manna's, our Honeys, and other Gummous Exsudations of Vegetables. But the finer and lighter Parts are with greater ease sent up into the Atmosphere. Thence they are conveyed to our Organs of Smell, by the Air we draw in Respiration; and are pleasant or offensive, beneficent or injurious to us, according to the Nature of the Plants from whence they arise. And since these owe their Rise to the Water, that ascends out of the Earth through the Bodies of Plants, we cannot be far to seek for the Cause why they are more
numerous in the Air, and we find a greater quantity of Odors exhaling from Vegetables, in warm, humid Seasons, than in any other whatever.
- A great part of the Terrestrial Matter that is mix'd with the Water, ascends up into the Plant as well as the Water. There was much more Terrestrial Matter at the end of the Experiment, in the Water of the Glasses F and