Of the Cocoa Tree, and its Fruit, commonly called the Cocoa-nut. 



I HAVE faid, that flraws, reeds, and many other ftalks of plants, 

 were formed of none other than perpendicular veflels, whereas the 

 Hems or bodies of all trees growing in our climate, at leait as far as 

 I have ever underftood, are likewife provided with horizontal vef- 

 fels ; the ufe of fuch laft mentioned vefiels being, in my judgment, 

 to convey the nutritive juices to the exterior parts of the tree. Now 

 thefe horizontal velTels impart fuch ftrength and firmnel's to tlie tim- 

 ber or trunk, that the moll fpreading trees are enabled to refifl: the 

 violence of the wind. 



But ftraws, reeds, and other (talks which are deflitute of horizontal 

 veflels, require ibme other means of fupport ; for, if all the veflels, 

 from the eartli up to the fummit of the ftalk, were difpofed only in 

 uninterrupted parallel lines, tli.e flialks would be fo weak and flexible, 

 that they could neitiier refifi; the wind, nor be able even to bear the 

 weight of their own fruit. Therefore, thefe kinds of ftalks, are 

 ftrengthened by a fort of joints or knots, at intervals, which prevent 

 the over much bending of the ftalk ; and the joints are placed at 

 fuch diftances that the ipaces between each will allov/ the bending, 

 only fo much as to recover itfelf. 



What has been faid of the joints in flalks growing in tliefe regions, 

 I confider as applicable to fome forts of trees in the Indies ; and, 

 upon feeing fome of thofe hidian trees defcribed in drawings, I im- 

 mediately concluded, that the Cocoa Tree was of the number. 



Aftorfevcral endeavours to obtain a i'pecimen of this tree. I at length 



A a 



