The Summary of Physics Restored

139Nature intends three things in irrigating. First, she means to distil her enriched moisture gradually rather than pour it out, lest a flood arise and an abundance of water close the ways through which the life-giving spirit passes in earth’s entrails, and extinguish earth’s inward heat. For that wise and just governor bestows all her benefits by weight, number, and measure. Second, she means to distribute moisture through different droppings and under varied forms: rain now denser, now thinner; now dew, now frost; pouring it out now more generously, now more sparingly, so as to offer drink according to the appetite or necessity of earth in her greater or lesser thirst. Third, irrigations are to occur in turns, with other operations interspersed, rather than continuously. Sunshine succeeds rain and rain sunshine, day succeeds night and night day, alternately.