69 



Her Is are the first, trees the second, and shrubs 

 the third. 



These three kinds, which are spread over the face 

 of the earth, live promiscuously therein; but there ex- 

 ists, in the different classes, an almost infinite diversity 

 of sizes, forms, colours and inclinations. 



They all in common pass their lives in a state of im- 

 moveablenesS. Fixed to the earth by various sorts of 

 fibres, they derive their principal nourishment from it; 

 and with them to live is to expand themselves. 



$. The roots, stalks, branches, leaves, flowers, and 

 fruits, comprize all that is most remarkable in the ex- 

 ternal parts of plants. 



The roots, by means of their different kinds of hinges, 

 tuberosities, and ramifications, keep the plant fixed to 

 the earth, while their pores imbibe an exceeding fine 

 slime, which the water liquefies and carries with it. 



From the root springs the stalk, to which the plant 

 partly owes its strength and beauty. Being sometimes 

 shaped like a pipe, it is fortified with knots skilfully 

 disposed, As it is sometimes too weak to support it- 

 self, it contrives means to twist itself about a solid prop, 

 or to fasten to it by means of the little hands it is fur- 

 nished with. Otherwise it appears a strong pillar, bears its 

 proud head aloft in the air, and braves the efforts of 

 storms and tempests. 



The tranches shoot forth, like so many arms, from 

 the trunk and stalk, on which they are distributed with 

 great regularity. They are divided and sub-cljvided 

 into many small boughs, and the sub-divisions observe 

 the same order as the 'principal divisions. 



The leaves, that charming ornament of plants, are 

 disposed round the stalk and branches with the same 

 symmetry. Some are simple, others compounded, or 

 formed of various foliage. One sort is plain, another 



