i6a We Principles of Part IV. 



great divifion of plants is into the fibrous 

 and carrot rooted. The fibrous-rooted di- 

 vide directly into fmall fibres, which run 

 in all directions, but moftly horizontally; 

 the carrot-rooted fend one great item di- 

 rectly down, which has lateral fibres. The 

 former, in which clafs are reckoned all the 

 white grains, rye-grafs, &c. confolidate the 

 ground ; while the latter, in which clafs are 

 reckoned the liguminous plants, carrots, 

 turnips, clover, &c. attenuate and loofen 

 the foil exceedingly. The clover is often 

 ejected altogether out of the ground after a 

 froft. 



THIS effect muft depend on the nature 

 of the roots. The fibrous roots muft bind 

 the foil together like fo many threads, 

 while the carrot root defcends like a wedge, 

 and by its mere mechanical force cuts the 

 earth; perhaps the latter may operate, 

 likewife, by feparating more moiflure from 

 Jt$ root to keep the earth loofe. Some 

 plants appear to have this quality. A 



fprig 



