SECT. I. WOUNDS. 473 



curacy by means of the trial of burning ; as animal 

 substances in a state of ignition exhale a strong 

 and phosphoric odour, which vegetable substances 

 do not. 



CHAPTER XII. 



CASUALTIES AFFECTING THE LIFE OF VEGETABLES. 



As plants are, like animals, organized and living 

 beings, they are, like animals also, liable to such acci- 

 dental injuries and disorders as may affect the 

 health and vigour, or occasion the death of the indi- 

 vidual ; which is at any rate eventually effected by 

 means of the natural decay and final extinction of 

 the vital principle. Hence the subject of vegetable 

 casualties divides itself into the three following 

 heads Wounds, Diseases, Natural Decay. 



SECTION I. 



Wounds. 



A WOUND is a forcible separation of the solid parts intention 

 of the plant effected by means of some external ci 

 cause. It maybe intentional, as in the case of incision, 

 boring, girdling, grafting, pruning, felling, and such 

 like operations ; or it may be accidental, as in the 

 case of injuries sustained by the rubbing or browsing 

 of cattle ; by the bite and depredation of insects, 





