OF THE LEAVES, &C. 91 



of the food it takes into the stomach, to the in- 

 crease of its permanent substance, a consider- 

 able portion being thrown off as excrement, 

 plants also appropriate a part only, and throw 

 off the remainder as excrementitious ? And if 

 so, what part of a plant appears so likely to be 

 prepared for this purpose as the leaves ? The 

 food being taken up as a liquid, and duly ap- 

 plied to the needful purposes of the plant, the 

 superfluous part of the oxygene might be passed 

 off in vapour or gas, and the hydrogene, carbon, 

 &c. with the leaves, 



A very important question is also quoted by 

 Miller, as put by the Rev. Mr. Hales, in addition 

 to some queries by Sir Isaac Newton : " And 

 " may not light also, by freely entering the ex- 

 " panded surfaces of leaves and branches, contri- 

 " bute much to enobling the principles of vege- 

 " tables?" Which must certainly be answered in 

 the affirmative, if, by enobling vegetables, is to 

 be understood, their being put in a proper state 

 to produce blossoms, fruit, and seed, in maturity. 

 It is not only obvious, that without light, vegeta- 

 bles will not produce blossoms or seed, but that, 

 in proportion as plants, or any parts of plants, 

 from being crowded together, overshadow each 

 other, so will they be deficient in produce. The 

 most simple appearance and habits of every plant 



