ON VEGETATION. 43 



The roots of a tree constitute evidently the stom- 

 ach, corresponding to that of man. This stomach, or 

 the fine fibres of the roots, takes up vegetable matter, 

 which is very minutely dissolved in water, and con- 

 veys the fluid, which is like the chyle when it leaves 

 the animal stomach, up the alburnum, or heart wood, 

 to the lungs or leaves ; for it is evident that the leaves 

 of a plant or tree constitute the lungs. Now when 

 the chyle, (or milky fluid,) leaves the stomach of the 

 animal, it is not blood, and has not the power to nour- 

 ish and do the offices of blood, until it enters the lungs 

 and becomes oxydized by absorbing the oxygen from 

 the atmosphere, when it becomes red, and is sent to 

 all parts of the body. It is precisely so with the sap 

 or blood of the tree. So soon as it reaches the 

 leaves, it is elaborated or changed in its properties by 

 the action of the air ; and it is for this purpose that 

 Nature formed the leaf so large and thin, giving a 

 large surface to the action of the air. When the sap 

 is properly changed by the action of the atmosphere 

 through the surface of the leaf, it is sent down the 

 tree between the cortical layers, and deposits as it 

 goes the woody matter, which gradually hardens into 

 wood. 



Here we seethe wisdom of God in the wonders of 

 the vegetable creation. I mean, the great similitude 

 or resemblance between the animal and the vegetable 

 creation; particularly in the circulation of the blood, 

 in each. The roots represent the stomach in the an- 



