164 



them directly, and part obliquely, furnish it with its 

 nourishment. But the fruit increasing intercepts the 

 aliment, and then the flower is starved and falls off. 

 4. The core, which is a production of the pith of 

 the plant, strengthened by fibres of the wood inter- 

 mixed. This is a case for the kernels, filtrates the 

 juice of the pulp, and corireys it to them. 



Fruit serves not only for the food of animals, but 

 to guard and nourish the seed enclosed, to filtrate 

 the coarser part of the nutritious juice, and transmit 

 only the purest for the support and growth of the 

 plant ul e. 



In every sort of grain, wheat, barley, or any other, 

 there a rje three particulars observable. 1. The outer 

 coat which contains all the rest. This in the same 

 species of grain, is of a very different thickness in 

 diffwnt years, as also in different soils. 2. The germ 

 or bud. This is always hid in the grain, and is the 

 plant in miniature. And 3. The meal, which is en- 

 closed in the skin, that surrounds the germ, and gives 

 it nourishment, when first put into the earth, before 

 it is capable of drawing from the earth itsdl. 



The whole structure of the plant which produces 

 these grains is equally admirable. The chaiiy uusk 

 is well adapted to defend the grain, as l^ng as that 

 is necessary, and then to let it fall. The stalk, hollow 

 and round, is at once light and strong, and capable of 

 sustaining the ear, without absorbing tuo much of 

 the juices destined for its nourishment. And the 

 beards are a defence against the birds, that would 

 otherwise destroy the grain before it ripened. The 

 covering of the grain is formed of fibres, which meet 

 in a line, and form a kind of furrow. This is the 

 place, at which the seed, when moistened, is to 

 burst open. Were not these means prepared for the 

 germ's coming out, the toughness of the outer coat 

 would have kept in boih the meal and the germ, till 

 they had rotted together. 



Nor is Ihis the only use of this place of opening, 

 The grain is designed not only for seed, but for foi)d 



