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and some by several of these ways. Secondly, for 

 the security of such species as are produced only by 

 seed, most seeds are endued with a lasting vitality ; 

 so that if by reason of excessive cold or drought, or 

 any other accident, they happen not to spring up 

 the fmt year, they may continue their fruitf illness, 

 i do IHH say, six or seven only, but even twenty or 

 thirty years. Nay, after this term, if the hindrance 

 be removed, they will spring, and bring forth fruit. 

 Hence it is, that plants are sometimes lost for a con. 

 siderable time, in places wherein they abounded be* 

 fore. And after some years appear anew. They are 

 lost either because of the unfavourable reasons : 

 because the land was fallowed, or because plenty of 

 weeds or other plants, prevented their coming up. 

 "And as soon as these impediments are removed they 

 spring up again. Thirdly, many vegetables are armed 

 with prickles or thorns, to secure them from the 

 browzing of beasts, as also to defend others, which 

 grow under their shelter. Hereby likewise they are 

 made particularly useful to mau, either for cprick 

 or dead fences. Fourthly, such vegetables as are 

 weak and not able to support themselves, have a 

 wonderful faculty, to use the strength of their neigh, 

 bours, embracing and climbing up upon them, and using 

 them as crutches to their feeble bodies. Some twist 

 themselves about others like a screw; some lay fast hold 

 upon them, by their curious claspers or tendrils, 

 which herein are equivalent to hands. Some strike 

 in a kind of root : others by the emission of a natural 

 glue, firmly adhere to any thing which has strength 

 Suffcieiit to support them. Claspers are of a com- 

 pound nature, between a root and a branch. Some- 

 times they serve for support only, as in*the claspers 

 of vines, whose branches being long and slender, 

 would otherwise sink with their own weight ; some- 

 times for a supply of nourishment also ; as in the 

 trunk roots of ivy, which mounting very high, and 

 being of a close and very compact nature, the sap 

 would not be sufficiently supplied to the upper sprouts 



