33 



CHAPTER VII. 



OF THE MEDULLA OR PITH. 



The centre or heart of the vegetable bodjj 

 within the wood, contains the Medulla or 

 Pith. This, in parts most endued with hfe, 

 as roots, and young growing stems or 

 branches, is a tolerably firm juicy substance, 

 of an uniform texture, and commonly a pale 

 green- or yellowish colour, Such is its ap- 

 pearance in the young shoots of Elder in the 

 spring 'y but in the very same branches, fully 

 grown, the pith becomes dry, snow-white, 

 highly cellular, and extremely light, capable 

 of being compressed to almost nothing. So 

 it appears likewise in the common Red or 

 White Currant, and numerous other plants. 

 In many annual stems the pith, abundant 

 and very juicy while they are growing, be- 

 comes little more than a web, lining the hol- 

 low of the complete stem, as in some This« 



