many Learned men are pleas'd to think him) having had an Opportunity
to prosecute an Experiment much of the same nature with those I have
been now speaking of, for five Years together, obtain'd at the end of
that time so notable a Quantity of Transmuted Water, that I should
scarce Think it fit to have his Experiment, and Mine Mention'd
together, were it not that the Length of Time Requisite to this may
deterr the Curiosity of some, and exceed the leasure of Others; and
partly, that so Paradoxical a Truth as that which these Experiments
seem to hold forth, needs to be Confirm'd by more Witnesses then one,
especially since the Extravagancies and Untruths to be met with in
_Helmonts_ Treatise of the Magnetick Cure of Wounds, have made his
Testimonies suspected in his other Writings, though as to some of the
Unlikely matters of Fact he delivers in them, I might safely undertake
to be his Compurgator. But that Experiment of his which I was
mentioning to You, he sayes, was this. He took 200 pound of Earth
dry'd in an Oven, and having put it into an Earthen Vessel and
moisten'd it with Raine water he planted in it the Trunk of a Willow
tree of five pound Weight; this he Water'd, as need required, with
Rain or with Distill'd Water; and to keep the Neighbouring Earth from
getting into the Vessell, he employ'd a plate of Iron tinn'd over and
perforated with many holes. Five years being efflux'd, he took out
the Tree and weighed it, and (with computing the leaves that fell
during four Autumnes) he found it to weigh 169 pound, and about three
Ounces. And Having again Dry'd the Earth it grew in, he found it want
of its Former Weight of 200 Pound, about a couple only of Ounces; so
that 164 pound of the Roots, Wood, and Bark, which Constituted the
Tree, seem to have Sprung from the Water. And though it appears not
that _Helmont_ had the Curiosity to make any _Analysis_ of this Plant,
yet what I lately told You I did to One of the Vegetables I nourish'd
with Water only, will I suppose keep You from Doubting that if he had
Distill'd this Tree, it would have afforded him the like Distinct
Substances as another Vegetable of the same kind. I need not Subjoyne
that I had it also in my thoughts to try how Experiments to the same
purpose with those I related to You would succeed in other Bodies then
Vegetables, because importunate Avocations having hitherto hinder'd me
from putting my Design in Practise, I can yet speak but Confecturally
[Transcriber's Note: Conjecturally] of the Success: but the best is,
that the Experiments already made and mention'd to you need not the
Assistance of new Ones, to Verifie as much as my present task makes it
concern me to prove by Experiments of this Nature.
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