a Comparison between Jriimul and Fegetalle Life. 89 



clearing the way through the kard wood for the buds ; pro- 

 bably it might serve as a good comparison to the gastric juice ; 

 for great must be its dissolving powers. When the bud is first 

 formed on the line of life in the root, and runs up to that part 

 from which it is to start and make its way to the bark, the 

 wood opens it a passage; and this is apparently done, even through 

 iron w'uod, by a liquid which no sooner touches the Jibres, than 

 they divide and bend, and thus make a sort uf covered way for 

 the bud. That the bud passes from the interior no one can, I 

 think, di-nrj, u-ho examines a tree after it has been barked: at 

 every time of the year, but particularly in the autumn, a quantity 

 of buds may he seen running from the line of life, to fix them- 

 selves in the bark. This is merely the embryo of the bud, or 

 empty seed-vessel, with the nectareous passages and the corolla, 

 all rolled up together into a little ball. These, when they start 

 from the line of life, possess a juice of a peculiar kind which 

 precedes them, and arranges the wood-vessels as it passes, Hi- 

 king them all bend from it thus (o) '• so that there is actuallv 



a large space betv/een the bvd and the wood filled up with sap- 

 jelly : nor is it possible the bud can be even touched, nmcb. more 

 injured ; since this hollow sjjace is left for it till it reaches its 

 scales, already prepared in the bark for its reception. There is 

 not, perhaps, any of the contrivances of Nature more beautiful 

 than this, or which has been so strangely misunderstood : if the 

 bud had had to force its way, it would have been destroyed. In 

 following the process, it is but cutting away the wood near where 

 there are buds; as you approach one it becomes softer and softer, 

 at last the liquid is discovered, and in the midst of it the little 

 delicate embryo, lying in its bath or jelly-case, while a covered 

 way near an inch before it is already prepared for its advance- 

 ment. As it approaches the bark, its inclosure or cradle is 

 ready for it, with all the conveniences selected for its preserva- 

 tion; and generally a quantity of hairs or points covering the 

 outward scales of the bud, to introduce into the interior, or the 

 hall, all the nourishment the most delicate creature can require; 

 for there are few buds that are not at that time of the year loaded 

 with hairs and instruments. Though I can find no analogy in 

 the human frame for this process, yet I doubt not, if we pos- 

 sessed the liquid, it would assimilate well with the gastiic juice. 

 That so delicate, so soft a matter as a bud should pass unhurt 

 through perhaps a foot or two of hard wood (for it must do so 

 in the stem of a very large tree) is really almost miraculous till 

 the method is explained. 



Having 



