4 lO On (he Seed of Plants. 



such instrumenM as I have now shown at 8, 9 and 10, be called 

 peisphation ? and yet they are all of the same kind, and I never 

 yet saw one without a stand. If the purport was to throw out 

 a juice from the vegetable, it is easily done: but great mechanism 

 is required to draw a liquid within the plant, especially as the 

 juices are also to be prepared by the aflinity of the different 

 matters, by means of chemical attraction and attraction of com- 

 position : nor do I the least doubt that, minute as these hairs 

 are, electricity plavs her part among them, and assists in these 

 various labours of natural art. 



It is provoking to consider that this formation rather increases 

 our difficulties in accounting for the means and laws by which 

 plants are governed; as it is much more easy (difficult as wc have 

 hitherto found it) to suppose the flow of a liquid up the stem of 

 a tree, than to imagine a power by which a powder is tluis con- 

 veyed. We have capillary attraction, the force and pressure 

 of air, &c. &c. but I know of no law in areology or in hydro- 

 statics that can carry a powder, especially an almost dry powder 

 (as it appears) : and yet no person can dissect long, and not ad- 

 mit the validitv of this process. That several different powders are 

 conveyed up the trunk of an amazing high tree, by means of 

 vessels protruded for the time, and that a])ertures are to be seen 

 up which the powders pass, if horizontal cuttings are made in 

 thetrunk, — is a truth I have ascertained beyond all contradiction; 

 but that the time must be watched, as it lasts but a week or two 

 in the rear. There must then be a poucr, a law in nature we 

 are not yet informed of, or acquainted with, which will account 

 for these wonders. But by following nature in her progressive 

 ■movements we shall easily reach the devclo|)inent of the whole, 

 provided we condescend to be led lij nature, not to lead her : 

 if, instead of following by exact dissections, we choose always to 

 go liack to the authors that have existed previous to lis, we shall 

 never advance, but always add to our mistakes and increase 

 our difficulties. Sure it is the strangest thing, when I wish to 

 know hew a tree is made, and that I have jjerseverance to go 

 on in the study, that I should pi-efer goin^ back to Malpighy, 

 &;c. &c. rather than take that tree down, cut it to pieces, watch 

 in others like it, their daily growth, and follow their increase ; — 

 would not constant exannriUtion in four or five years teach me 

 more than Malpighy ? I have the greatest opinion of our pre- 

 decessors in botany, particularly in dissectivc botany: but I would 

 rather examine tliem after studi/ing nature than before, and 

 compare nature and my own o|)inions together, afterwards. 

 I am, sir, 



Your obliged servant, 



AgN'ES IliBETSON. 



De- 



