50 



or means were used, which might be sup- 

 posed to assist its operations. 



That the principal current, or course 

 of the sap is immediately under the bark, 

 or between it and the wood, seems ob- 

 vious, from the appearance which always 

 follows the taking off a branch close to 

 the stem, either in or before the growing 

 season ; for, soon after that commences, 

 a ring or swell may be observed round 

 the wound, by some called a cicatrice, 

 which is no other than the ends of the 

 sap-vessels that fed the branch, sealed up, 

 as it were, by a Composition, superior 

 both in quality and mode of application, 

 to any the art of man ever did or ever can 

 invent. 



Another proof of the point in hand is, 

 that some time after such branch has 

 been taken off, if the tree be vigorous, 

 we frequently may observe a trifling swell 

 above the part, the old bark being crack- 



