VEGETATION. [Lesson xxxir. 



after the opening of the membranes, a sharp 

 pointed body appears, which is the root. By a 

 kind of instinctive principle (if the expression may 

 be allowed), it seeks a passage downward, and 

 fixes itself into the soil. At this period the root is 

 a smooth and polished- body, and has, perhaps, bub- 

 little power to absorb any thing from the earth for 

 the nutriment of the germ. The two lobes next 

 begin to separate; and the germ, with its leaves, 

 may be plainly discorered. As the germ increases- 

 insize, the lobes are farther separated, and the ten- 

 der leaves, being closely joined, push themselves- 

 forward in the form of a wedge* These leaves* 

 take a contrary direction tcrthat of th* root: they 

 seek a passage upward; which having obtained, 

 they lay aside their wedge-like form, and spread- 

 themselves in an horizontal direction, as being the 

 best adapted for receiving the rains and dew. The 

 radicle, every hour increasing in size and vigour, 

 pushes itself deeper into the earth, from- which it 

 now draws some nutritive particles. At the same- 

 time the leaves of the germ, being of a succulent- 

 nature, assist the Plant by attracting from the at- 

 mosphere such particles as the tender vessels are* 

 fit to convey. These particles, however, are of a 

 watery kind, and have not in their own nature a*- 

 sufficiency of nutriment for the increasing Plant. 

 Vegetables, a& well as animals, during their tender 

 state, require a large share of balmy nourishment. 

 As soon as an animal is brought to life, the milk of 

 its mother is supplied i& a liberal stream : but, at 



