STUDY XI. 



3 11 



monftrating to him the invariable intentions of be- 

 nevolence in the Author of Nature. The va- 

 rieties of their adaptation reflect mutual light; 

 the means are different, but the end is conftantly 

 the fame. The fame goodnefs which has placed 

 the fruit deftined for the nourishment of Man, 

 within reach of his hand, muft have likewife dif- 

 pofed his nofegay with fimilar attention to his con- 

 veniency. It may be here remarked, that our 

 fruit-trees are eafily fcaled, and different, in this 

 refpeft, from m oft foreft-trees. Farther, all thofe 

 which produce fruits that are foft, when in a flate 

 of perfect maturity, and which would have been li- 

 able to be bruifed in falling, fuch as the fig-tree, 

 the mulberry, the plumb, the peach, the apricot, 

 prefent their crop at a fmall diftance from the 

 ground : thofe, on the contrary, which yield hard 

 fruit, and fuch as have nothing to rifk from falling 

 far, carry it aloft, as walnut-trees, cheftnuts, an4 

 cocoas. 



There is no lefs marveloufnefs of adaptation in 

 the forms and lizes of fruits, Many of them are 

 moulded for the mouth of Man, fuch as cherries 

 and plumbs ; others for his hand, fuch as pears 

 and apples ; others much larger, fuch as melons, 

 have the fub-divifions marked, and feem deftined 

 to be a focial family repaft : nay, there are fome 

 in India, as the jacq, and with ourfelves the pum-- 



x 4 pion. 



