£20 STUDIES OF NATURE. 



When they are borne in flowing and drooping 

 plumes, fuch as thofe ofmoft grafles of hot coun- 

 tries, they are fheltered from the heat of the Sun ; 

 and when collected into an ear, as thofe of mofl 

 grafles of cold countries, they reflect his rays on 

 at lead one fide. Farther, by the fupplenefs of 

 their flems, ftrengthened by joints from diftance 

 to diftance, and by their filiform and capillaceous 

 leaves, they efcape the violence of the winds. Their 

 weaknefs avails them more than flrength does the 

 great trees. Like fmall fortunes, they are re-fown 

 and multiplied, by the very fame tempefts which 

 lay wafte the vafl forefts. 



They farther refift the effect of exceflive drynefs 

 by the length of their roots, which go, in queft of 

 moifture, a great way under ground ; and though 

 their leaves are narrow, they have them in fuch 

 numbers, that they cover the face of the ground 

 with plants endlefsly multiplied. At the {lighten; 

 fliower, you fee them all rear themfelves into the 

 air, at their extremities, as if they were fo many 

 claws. They even refill conflagration, which con- 

 fumes fo many trees in the foreft. I have feen coun- 

 tries in which they every year fet the herbage on 

 fire, in the feafon of drought, re-cover themfelves, 

 as foon as it rained, with the mort lovely verdure. 

 Though this fire be fo active, as frequently to de- 

 vour, root and branch, the trees which come into 



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