StCT. II." VEGETATION 9* 



Thus it appears, that the leaves, blossoms, fruit, 

 aaid branches, on all trees, are formed the year before; 

 and so their fruitfulness in the year they bear, is no 

 otherwise the consequence of that season, than that 

 nature has gone on without any destructive check in 

 her progress, and particularly at the time of flower- 

 ing, when many blossoms are destroyed by inclement 

 weather, and by wet only as much as any thing. 

 #*##'## 



The FLOWERS of plants have not yet been parti- 

 cularly noticed, but of them something must, and 

 inuch might, be said. 



Go, mark the matchless workings of the power 

 That shuts within the seed the future jlover ; 

 Bids these in elegance of form excel, 

 In colour these, and those delight the smell ; 

 Sends nature forth, the daughter of the skies, 

 To dance on earth, and charm all human eyes. 



COWPER. 



Flowers have a general structure in substance, 

 similar to the other parts of plants, as to vessels for 

 sap, air, &c. only are so much the more exquisitely 

 formed, as the leaves are of so delicate a texture. 

 They are formed in the bud while in the pith, and so 

 consequently are the fruit and seed. 



Thejfewer of many proceed from a bud, or knot, 

 the leaves or parts of which do first cover the flower 

 contained therein, whilst it is yet unable to bear the 

 inconveniencies of the weather, and defend it from 

 the same ; and after the flower is blown, they keep 

 up its leaves, that they may not hang confusedly 

 together, but regularly represent their beauties to 

 the eyes of the beholders : This is exemplified ir> 

 the carnation. Those flowers that have a cup to 

 sustain their leaves, are weak in their texture, and 

 so need this support; but those that are strong have 

 ij aot, as lilies, tulips, &c. Those that have no cup 



