154 



the winter ever so mild, do not put out before their 

 time. This also depends on some secret properties, 

 which man is not able to explain. 



17. As to the Generation of plants, first the tree 

 produces Buds, which afterwards expand into leaves, 

 flowers, or branches. In the buds entire plants are 

 contained. A small stalk, consisting of woody and 

 spiral fibres, springs out of the middle of the plant, 

 therein the bud inheres. It is involved in a thin bark, 

 which may be divided into various leaves, lying one 

 upon another like scales. 



18. Buds are followed by leaves and flowers. In 

 flowers we may consider, 1. The calix or outer cup, 

 designed to be a security to the other parts of the flow- 

 er* Those whose leaves are firm and strong, as tulips, 

 Jiave no calix at all. Carnations, whose leaves are 

 strong but slender, have a calix of one piece. Others 

 tave it consisting of several pieces, and in divers I 

 rounds. 2. The foliation or petala, the flower-leaves, 

 "which are properly the flower itself. In these, not 

 only the admirable beaury and luxuriant colour are ob- 

 servable, but also their curious folding in the calix, be- 

 fore they are expanded. 



It is remarkable, that many, if not most vegeta- 

 bles, especially those of a tender kind, expand their 

 flowers, or down, every day, if it be warm, shin-shiny 

 weather. But they close them as the evening ap- 

 proaches ; and some, at the approach of rain. This 

 is particularly d >ne at the beginning of flowering, 

 while the seed is-young and tender, as is easily seen in 

 the down of Dandelion, and eminently in the^ flower 

 oi Pimpernel. These serve as a weather-glass to the 

 countryman, by the opening ur shutting of these, he 

 can tell without any danger of being deceived, whe- 

 ther the weather will be foul tiie nex: day. 



The flower is as it were the womb, which con- 

 tains the eggs or seeds of plants, and in due time 

 brings them forth. It is near the bud, and lies hid 



