O F N A T U R E. 73 



trees like all other vegetables imbibe the wa- 

 ter from the earth, which water does not cir- 

 culate again to the root, as the ancients ima- 

 gined • ; but being difpcrfed, like fmali rain, 

 by the tranlpiration of the leaves, moiftcns the 

 plants that grow about. Again, many trees 

 bear flelhy fruits of the berry or apple kind, 

 which, being fecure from the attack of cattle, 

 grow ripe for the ufe of man, and other ani- 

 rhals, while their feeds are difperfed up and 

 down ^fter digeftion. Ladly the particular 

 ftru6lure of trees contribute very much to the 

 propagation of infedcs •, for thefe chiefly lay 

 their eggs upon their leaves, where they arc 

 fecure from the reach of cattle. 



Ever-green trees ^ ^xi^fljrubs with us are chief- 

 ly found in the mofl barren woods, that they 

 may be a flicker to animals in the winter. They 

 lofe their leaves every third year, as their feeds 

 are fufficiently guarded by the mojfes^ and do 

 not want any other covering. The palms in 

 the hot countries perpetually keep their leaves, 

 for there the feeds fl:and in no need of any 

 /lielter whatever. 



* See Vegetable Statics by thnt j^reat pliilofopher D 

 i-lftles, where this fubjcft is treated in a piallexly w::y. 



Many 



