; :i 



:;> 



Of Vegetation. 



33 J 



poles the tender growing fhoot tobediftend- 

 cd like foft wax by the expansion of the 

 moifturc in the fpongy piths which dilating 

 moifture, he with good rcafon concludes 

 is hindered from returning back, while it 

 expands by the fponginefs of the pith, 

 without the help of valves. For 'tis very 

 probable that the particles of water, which 

 immediately adhere to, and are ftrono-ly 

 imbibed into, and attracted by every fibre 

 of the fpongy pith, will fuffer fomc degree 

 of expanfion before they can be detached 

 by the fun's warmth from each attracting 

 fibre, and confequently the mafs of fpongy 

 fibres, of which the pith confifts, muft there- 

 by be extended. 



\ And that the pith may be the more fervice- 

 ablefor this purpofc, nature has provided in. 

 moil (hoots aftrong partition at every knot, 

 which partitions ferve not only as plinths, or 

 abutments for the dilating pith to exert its 

 force on, but alfo to prevent the rarined fap's 

 too free retreat from the pith. 



But a dilating fpongy fubftance, by 

 equally expanding it felf every way, would 

 not produce an oblong moot, but rather a 



globofeone, like an Apple j to prevent which 

 2 inconvenience 



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