41 



sets equally, there is little or no chance. 

 The reason of this appears to be, that, when 

 some get the start of others, they draw the 

 nourishment to themselves ; in consequence 

 the others quickly die, by which more sup- 

 port is gfo$n to the living : but when they 

 all partake equally, the whole nourishment 

 is exhausted, and the whole fruit perishes. 

 This may be exemplified by supposing a 

 ship at sea with one hundred men, and one 

 months provisions, but by stress of weather 

 she is driven out of her course, and they 

 find it will be two months before they can 

 reach port. It is clear, that, by throwing fifty 

 men overboard, fifty lives would be saved, 

 because one month's provisions for one hun- 

 dred men, will serve fifty men two months. 

 In this case it might be reckoned cruel, and 

 the men might be put on short allowance, 

 but we cannot apply this cruelty to trees, 



