20 CONCERNING SECT. II. 



fo that the principal rib fends out lateral ones lefs 

 flrong, and they again an infinite number of fine ones 

 in all directions; and thefe are veflels of two kinds, 

 viz. forjtip and air. As leaves throw off a great deal 

 of excrementitious, fo do they imbibe a great deal of 

 nutritious moiilure, as is evident from the general re- 

 freshments received from dews. Yet we are not to 

 conclude, that the other parts of plants do not the fame 

 in a lefs degree ; and the rough bark of the trees, and 

 the outer veflels, are well calculated to detain moifture, 

 to convey to other parts. 



The branches of plants come next to be confi- 

 dered. How beautifully do they fpread,and how uni- 

 formly do they proceed, keeping up precifely the fame 

 mode of growth, one from another throughout the 

 whole; till the head of the plant, or tree, attains its 

 cuflomary fize, and own peculiar form ; which if it 

 has grown with native liberty, proves always of an 

 agreeable fymmetry. 



The texture of branches conftfts of the fame kind 

 of veflels as the Hem, or trunk ; but here it may be 

 obferved, that there is yet a fpecific difference in the 

 veflels of the various parts, as is concluded from their 

 affording juices of a different flavour and effluvia in 

 the bark, wood, leaves, flowers and feeds; fo that 

 from the fame plant are extracted medical properties 

 of very contrary nature. 



Buds are like feeds, as ihey contain the future 

 growth of branches and fruit in miniature, fo that for 

 inftance, in the buds of a currant-tree may be difco- 

 vered (by a microfcope) even before winter, the woody 

 branch, and the bunches of fruit. The future fruit 

 alfo has been viewed in the bud of a vine. In the 

 fhort buds of pears^ which appear at Midjummer, an 

 indifferent microfcope will (hew the bloflbms defigned 

 for the April following. The buds of a Mezerion 

 being examined at Mid/'ummer, had the bloflbms dif- 



covered 



