Lesson xxxiv-.J VEGETATION. 827 



branches near the earth's surface: such are those 

 Planrs which produce roses/honeysuckles, goose- 

 berries', raspbcrres, and the like. But trees shoot 

 up in one great stem or body, and rise to a consi- 

 derable distance from the ground before they 

 spread their branches : as the oak, the ash, the 

 dm, the beach, the fir, the walnut tree, the pear 

 tree, and many others. 



The most considerable parts of Plants are the 

 root, the stalk or stem, the kaves, the flowers, and 

 the seed. Most Plants have these several parts; 

 though there are some that have not all of them : 

 the alot, for instance, has no htalk ; the savine 

 has no leaves ; the fern has no flowers. 



The uses of most of the parts of Plants are very 

 obvious: thus, the root evidently serves as a ba- 

 lance or counterpoise to the head, and by that 

 means enables the Plant to stand firmly in the 

 ground. In what other way could enormous oaks 

 be kept upright and fixed, but by the counter- 

 balance of their extensive, turgid roots? The 

 fibrous par's of the roots of Plants, like so many 

 mouths, absorb nutritious juices from the earth, 

 and thus convey to the Plants the chief of their 

 nourishment. The root also discharges the office 

 of a parent, by preserving the embryo Plants jn her 

 bosom, during the severity of the winter, in form 

 of bulbs or buds. 



The trunk, or stem of plants, consists of various 

 parts, as bark, wood, pith, sap vessels, &c. The 

 bark of Plants performs the same offices to them 

 that the skin does to animals : it clothes and de- 



fendi 



