We therefore have further to enquire of it, what makes it to be such a
liquor, and to ascend, whether the heat of the Sun and Air, or whether that
_firmentiation_ and _putrifaction_, or both together; as also whether there
be not a third or fourth; whether a Saline principle be not a considerable
agent in this business also as well as heat; whether also a fixation,
precipitation or settling of certain parts out of the aerial menstruum may
not be also a considerable coadjutor in the business. Since we find that
many pretty beards _stiriae_ of the particles of Silver may be precipitated
upon a piece of Brass put into a _solution_ of Silver very much diluted
with fair water, which look not unlike a kind of mould or hoar upon that
piece of metal; and the hoar frost looks like a kind of mould; and whether
there may not be several others that do concurr to the production of a
Mushrom, having not yet had sufficient time to prosecute according to my
desires, I must referr this to a better opportunity of my own, or leave and
recommend it to the more diligent enquiry and examination of such as can be
masters both of leisure and conveniencies for such an Enquiry.
And in the mean time, I must conclude, that as far as I have been able to
look into the nature of this Primary kind of life and vegetation, I cannot
find the least probable argument to perswade me there is any other
concurrent cause then such as is purely Mechanical, and that the effects or
productions are as necessary upon the concurrence of those causes as that a
Ship, when the Sails are hoist up, and the Rudder is set to such a
position, should, when the Wind blows, be mov'd in such a way or course to
that or t'other place; Or, as that the brused Watch, which I mention in the
description of Moss, should, when those parts which hindred its motion were
fallen away, begin to move, but after quite another manner then it did
before.
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