The Hartlib Papers

  An Extract out of Mr Worslys Letter dated the 16 of May

     1654 at Dublin to Mr Hartlieb.

  For our other Vtopian designes. I shall acquaint you yet further. Here was a Captaine of the Army, who was a Kinde of ingineer, who comming to the head quarters about the latter end of the last summer, and hearing much complaint for want of Powder, made a Proposall to my Lord General et the Comissioners for an Artificiall way of breeding et increasing of Salt-Peter in this Countrey, which my Lord General much favouring. It was referred to be considered to the Auditor Generall of the Army, And myselfe, who comming to conferre with the man found he understood nothing of it further then the Common Projectors of making it, with Dung Vrine and the like stuffe, for which also he craved the Loane of a thousand pound from the state, to carry it on upon no other Security, then his owne. This demand being high and the man answering so litle the exspectation of the Generall et Commissioners That the proposall might not altogether dye, I offered them Gratis to propound a way to effect it, and freely to acquaint them, with the whole mystery of it, and that without any vrine Dung et the like which if they should approve of I would eyther undertake it myselfe, or assist any, that they should appoint to do it; This was very well accepted by the General et Commissioners: And my Paper was drawne and approved as a way very rationall et probable by all. And I not demanding mechanically any summe of them, they were willing [catchword: to give./.]

And now I shall a litle tell you a litle further, what my thoughts are about this subject, and what I have within my selfe instituted.

First I have framed a pretty large induction upon common et familiar Experiments: to demonstrate that without controversy Salt is the seate of life et vegetation, et so the subject of nutrition. And this being assented to. It is in the next place to be considered whether salt as salt be this subject or whether all Salts equally nourish?

Here commes in an Examination of Salts by their tribes as Nitrous Salt, viz Vrinous Salt in which are comprehended 3 all Dungs Hornes, Shreds et the like. 4 common Salt et Sea-sand 5 Kaly salt as Ashes Kelpe, Minerall Salts, as of stones or lime of marle chalke, fullers earth Vitrioll. And because some salts do Kill, as that of vitrioll Also that of stones et lime if applyed in quantity and to the plant it selfe immediately. Hence commes the Examination of Salts further, viz whether any salt doth vniversally nowrish all Plants ande make them thrive, or whether some do best agree with one, others with [catchword: another./]

First seing you cannot sow sett or plant any vegetable or seed in Salt alone but must require 2 other Media viz water to dissolve et make fluid the particles of Salt, whereby the pores of the Plant or seed may be capable of it, et admitt it.

2 Earth as a fitt Vterus or matrix to keepe the thing planted steady. Hence a scruple ariseth, what is Earth abstractedly considered, for eyther it is sand or Salt, or water, or some other body. If sand whence commes its clammynesse and aptnesse to sod together, if salt whether is that a peculiar Salt, and whether can it be separated or not from it? If water, how commes it to be unable to nowrish without addition still of moysture. if Earth be none of all these, what is it, and what is its property? And whether[H? alters from weter] hath it any Energy? And indeed this is a very necessary inquiry, For my imbibitions[H alters from imbitions] signify nothing if my Earth <H: bee> before hand impregnated with an other Salt of perhap a much different nature, then that my plant imbibed doth require. And how shall I know this, when all inquiries about the natures of Earth. their severall Salts, dispositions, their Vses, and necessity for Germination And their severall ways of composition and correction is wholly tame and unsought after./. [catchword: / 5tly/ ]

5tly. It is to be considered that water especially raine-water hath life in it selfe without any addition of Salt or Earth, as is most apparent; as by many experiments: 50 by that famous and commonly knowne on in Africks. That rayne-water in 24 howres will be full of insects, that it will putrefy, if <H: etc> Now[H capitalises] if even Raine water it selfe be sufficient for life and do conteyne manifestly a Vitall Salt in it what is the need of those other salts, which seeme more remote from a life or vitality of disposition.

[left margin: 6] As no possibility of nowrishment nor any approach of vegetation moysture, so no possibility of life without Excitation and production of it, by an Actuall warmth and this is as well seene in vegetables as in Animalls. For the Earth is there, the Salt is there, and the water is there, yett in sharp and cold weather vegetation is not to be effected. [Henoe?] on the other side produceth nothing symply, unlesse in a soile [first? page edge] fitted. And cold it selfe though not a fit reason for germination, yet permitts of nutrition to many plants, who have even their lustre then as the Cypresse[H alters from ?] the Firre the Bay, with severall other. He therfore, that will enter upon this great subject of promoting vegetation, must first know, what things are principalia, what minus principalia, tamen necessaria, and what part to attribute[?] to each, viz. the Earth, the Salt, the water or dew, the warmth, and the Spiritt of the Plant itself.

2ly. He must seriously weigh, whether the subject of fer- [catchword: menta./]

3ly. Whether Fermentation being no other then a species of motion, there may not be diverse sortes of it arising from the nature and diversity of the Salt or other subjects, which cause it. And whether according to this divers notion the subject of nutrition having in it also a vitall principle, may not be disposed more or lesse to take this or that figur.

Lastly he must resolve the severall casualties as j may call them, of vegetation, as why the Earth putts forth some plants sponte not other? Why it very seldome putts forth some unlesse it be in producing of others? As Botanists can tell you that many plants are rarely or never found unlesse in ploughed fields either under corne et tillage or under fallow? why water should putt forth plants that will not at all grow in the Earth? why on the other side some Plants destroy, even the vegetative vertue as as twere in the soyle, where they are as to many Plants, As is manifest in Hempe and in oade. These, Sir, are the instituts. I sett to my selfe in the point of Husbandry In the ignorance of any of which I thinke a man knowes satisfactorily very little. They are rudely[H alters from ?] sett downe, but may afford ground of larger discourses. If you shall please eyther to cherish or excite this humor in me by laying or propounding of something further for promoting of vegetation [catchword: upon./.]

[hand Y:]           Salt the cause of Life

                              & Vegetation