[63] There is a deposition from the atmosphere of saline matter going on at the surface of the earth, either evaporated from the ocean, and falling with the rain and dews, or formed by gaseous combinations—most probably both. In countries where the quantity of rain is insufficient to wash this saline accumulation away into the ocean as fast as it is formed, it increases to such a degree as almost to prevent vegetation, only a few of what are termed saline plants appearing. This saline accumulation in warm dry countries, bears considerable analogy to tannin deposit in cold countries. [64] The matured timber of the larch, in some cases, remains for a considerable time stained before the rot proceeds rapidly; in other cases, the rot makes quick progress; in this rapid decomposition, certain kinds of fungi assist greatly. When once seated, they seem to form a putrid atmosphere or tainted circle around them, either by their living exhalations, or corrupt emanations when dead, which is poisonous to the less vital parts of superior life, and also expedites the commencement of decay in sound dead organic matter, such as timber, thus furthering the decomposition so far as to render it suitable food for their foul appetite, and paving the way to their further progress. How their seeds enter into the heart of a growing tree having no external rottenness, is not very obvious, unless they are inhaled or imbibed by the root tendrils: from the resemblance which the growth of some of them has to fermentation, it is not even very improbable that the animalcules of supposed molecular or inferior life, have, of themselves, a disposition to unite into some of these aggregates without the presence of any disposing germ. The modifications of material attractions, by the varied germs of superior life—the fixity of some of these deposites after life is gone—the resolution of these into inferior animalcular, or even molecular, life—and the instrumentality of zoophytes of the lower order of organization, in hastening this decomposition by the balancing of the attractions of this secondary life, afford a wide field for investigation. Those uncouth sportings of nature quickly appear and disappear as _material_ spectres, feeding on corruption, and mocking at primary life.