88 GLANDULAR TEXTURE. [LECT. III. 



As we do not intend, at present, to enter into 

 any account of the uses of the vessels we 

 have described, we will only observe, that as 

 all vegetables take up nourishment from the soil, 

 and change it into juices different from each 

 other, and which must be preserved from mingling 

 together during the life of the plant, we might 

 (a priori) suppose that plants must necessarily 

 possess a vascular system : microscopic anatomy 

 proves the fact, displays the numerous ramifica- 

 tions, and general distribution of the vessels : ob- 

 servation shows that their elongation increases the 

 bulk and growth of the plant, and that they per- 

 form the most important functions in the vegetable 

 system. I may here also remark, that whilst the 

 tubes, or vessels, which have been described, are 

 intended chiefly for the longitudinal progression of 

 fluids, the lateral transmission of the vegetable 

 juices is performed, perhaps solely, by organized 

 pores and slits, such as have been described in 

 the perforated vessels, and in the sides of the 

 cells. But the account of the manner in which 

 this function is performed, must be postponed for 

 our future consideration. 



The structure of the Glandular texture, as 

 far as relates to the interior of the vegetable body, 

 is much more difficult of demonstration than that 

 of any of the general solid components which 

 have been already noticed : but, when the im- 

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