#0 CONCERNING. SJCCT, 1** 



of two kinds, viz. for sap and air. As leaves throw 

 off a great deal of excrementitious, so do they iirt- 

 bibe a great deal of nutritious moisture, as is evident 

 from the general refreshments received from dews* 

 Yet we are not to conclude, that the other parts of 

 plants do not the same in a less degree ; and the 

 rough bark of the trees, and the outer vessels, are 

 well calculated to detain moisture, which it conveys 

 to other parts. 



The BRANCHES of plants come next to be consi- 

 dered. How beautifully do they spread, and how 

 uniformly do they proceed, keeping up precisely the 

 same mode of growth, one from another throughout 

 the whole ; till the head of the plant, or tree, attains 

 its customary size, and own peculiar form ; which if 

 it has grown with native liberty, proves always of an 

 agreeable symmetry. 



The texture of branches consists of the same kind 

 of vessels as the stem, or trunk ; but here it may be 

 observed, that there is yet a specific difference in the 

 vessels of the various parts, as i& concluded from 

 their affording juices of a different flavour and efflu- 

 via in the bark, wood, leaves, flowers and seeds ; so 

 that from the same plant are extracted medical pro- 

 perties of very contrary nature. 



BUDS are like seeds, as they contain the future 

 growth of branches and fruit in miniature, so that 

 for instance, in the buds of a currant-tree may be 

 discovered (by a microscope) even before winter, the 

 woody branch, and the bunches of fruit. The future 

 fruit also has been viewed in the bud of a vine. In 

 the short buds of pears,, which appear at Midsun*- 

 mer, an indifferent microscope will shew the blossoms 

 designed for the April following. The buds of ft 

 Mezerion being examined at Midsummer have had 

 the blossoms discovered in them, though the time oi 

 their blow is not till February. 



