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dium, wherein to prepare and combine, the more 

 exalted principles of vegetables, than the gross watery 

 fluid of the sap. And that there is plenty of these 

 particles in the leaves is evident, from the sulpha* 

 reous exudations often found on their edges. To 

 these refined aerial particles, not only the most racy, 

 generous' taste of fruits, but likewise the most grateful 

 odours of flowers, yea, and their beautiful colours, 

 are probably owing. 



In order to supply tender shoots with nourishment, 

 nature is careful to furnish, at small distances, the 

 young shoots of all sorts of trees, with many leaves, 

 throughout their whole length, which as so many 

 jointly acting powers, draw plenty of sap to them. 



The like provision has nature made in the corn, 

 grass, and reed kind ; the leafy spires, which draw- 

 nourishment to each joint, being provided long before 

 the stem shoots, the tender steins would easily break 

 or dry up, so as to prevent their growth, had not 

 these scabbards been provided, which both support 

 and keep them in a supple and ductile state* 



The growth of a young bud to a shoot, consists 

 in the gradual dilatation and extension of every part, 

 till it is stretched out to its full length. And the 

 capillary tubes still retain their hollow ness, notwith- 

 standing their being extended, as we see melted glass 

 tubes nmiin hollow, though drawn out to the finest 

 thread. 



The pith of trees is always full of moisture, while 

 the shoot is growing, by the expansion, of which the 

 tender ductile shoot is distended in every part. But 

 when each year's shoot is fully grown, tien the pith\ 

 gradually dries up. Mean time nature carefully ^ro- 

 vides for the growth of the succeeding year, by pre- 

 serving a tender, ductile part in the hud, replete with 

 succulent pith. Great care is likewise taken to keep 

 the parts between the bark and wood always sup- 

 ple with slimy moisture, from which ductile matter 

 the woody fibres, vesicles, and bud* are formed. 

 The great yaricty of dirivrent substances ia the 

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