SECT. II. VEGETATION. 21 



covered in them, though the time of their blow is not 

 till February. 



Thus it appears, that the leaves, bloflbms, fruit, 

 and branches, on all trees, are formed the year before ; 

 and fo their fruitfulnefs in the year they bear, is no 

 otherwife the confequence of that feafon, than that 

 nature has gone without any deftru&ive check in her 

 progrefs, and particularly at the time of flowering, 

 when many bloflbms are deflroyed by inclement wea- 

 ther, and by wet only as much as any thing. 



* # * * * * 



The F lowers of plants have not yet been particu- 

 larly noticed, but of them fomething mull, and much 

 might, be faid. 



Gr, mark the matchlefs workings of the power 

 That fhirs within the feed the future flower; 

 Bids thefe in elegance of form excel, 

 In colour thefe, and tftofe delight the fmell ; 

 Sends nature forth, the daughter of the ikies, 

 To dance on earth, and charm all human eyes. 



COWPEK, 



flowers have a general flruclure in fubftance, fimilar 

 to the other parts of plants, as to veffels for fap, air, &c. 

 only are fo much the more exquifitely formed, as the 

 leaves are of fo delicate a texture. They are formed 

 in the bud while in the p/'tb, and fo confequently are 

 the fruit and feed. 



The flowers of many proceed from a bud, or knot, 

 the leaves or parts of which do firit cover the flower 

 contained therein, whilfl it is yet unable to bear the 

 inconveniencies of the weather, and defend it from the 

 fame; and after the flower is blown, they keep up its 

 leaves, that they may not hang confufedly together, 

 but regularly represent their beauties to the eyes of the 

 beholders : This is exemplified in the carnation, 

 Thefe fcWers that have a cup to fuftain their leaves, 



are 



