same colour as the pith, it is so very clear in its undu- 

 lations. 

 Curious growth But of all the plants which prove the powers of the cir- 

 tans. C P<>a feP c * c °^ ^ e > noQe perhaps equal the grass called poa reptans. 

 It grew in a pieca of swampy rubbish ground at the bottom 

 of my garden. I had often measured seycn or eight yards 

 in length in the winter, perfectly dead; and yet in June, 

 or the end of May, perceived life beginning to show itself 

 at the farthest end from the stalk. Surprised at this, I the 

 next spring chose two, much alike, dissected one of them 

 the whole way, and found a collection of little vessels, which 

 in thickness was not larger than a veryjfe thread. It had 

 got half way the length of the grass, which was about three 

 yards. Having merely opened the cover, I laid it down 

 again, and the little vessels continued growing, till they got 

 to the end of the length of grass. They then made a stop, 

 and I perceived the grass began to thicken ; and at the end 

 nearest the roots, the dead part became inflated with juice, 

 lost by degrees its dead appearance, got thickened about the 

 joints within; and at last shot forth fresh leaves aud fresh 

 roots , from every joint. I have since watched it with the 

 greatest care, and find it is the circle of life, that runs thus, 

 protected by the dead scale. When it is stopped by the 

 cover ceasing, it waits till the season permits the rest to 

 Dead vegetable grow. But it should teach more than this; it will show, 



revived may & tnat * ne ^ eac * raatter ma, Y De inflated with a living juice , 

 and live again, provided the life at bottom is not extinguished; 

 and I have since seen this in many things, as in thehydrangia, 

 where the stalks apparently die down, and are inflated again, 

 or at least a part of them ; and I doubt not a gardener must 



Cause of the know many instances. The extreme delicacy of the circle 

 ou pith. q£ life is the cause of the double pith ; the parts around it 

 get injured, it starts on this account from its place, and gets 

 farther into the wood ; and if it has gone very far, instead of 

 returning the pith begins to form near it, till two complete 

 piths appear with the circle of life surrounding each on one 

 side; or if any wood is formed between they will each com. 

 plete its circle of life. I could givean innumerable number 

 of additional proofs of the right these vessels have to be 

 called the circle of life, or propagation, did I not fear to 



disgust 



