24 BOOK OP NATURE LAID OPEN. 



The, Structure, of Vegetables) 



In all their varied forms, is truly wonderful. 

 How excellently adapted are the roots for taking 

 hold of their parent earth, as well as for drawing 

 nourishment for the support of the plant, and imbib- 

 ing moisture from the neighbouring soil ! How com- 

 modiously are the various tubes and fibres which 

 compose the trunk or stalk arranged, for the motion 

 of the sap upwards to aH the extremities of the 

 leaves and branches ! How nicely are the .'eaves 

 formed for the important services they are made to 

 yield in the economy of vegetation ! See how they 

 serve to concoct and prepare the sap ; how they 

 prevent by their s"hade the moisture at the root from 

 being too speedily evaporated ; how they embrace 

 and defend the flower in the bud, and carefully con- 

 ceal the fruit before it arrives at maturity ; and by 

 catching the undulations of the gentle breeze, how 

 they convey that motion to the trunk and branches, 

 which (for ought we know,,) may be as essentially 

 necessary to the vegetable life as exercise is to ani- 

 mal health. What an excellent clothing does the 

 bark afford, not only for protecting the stem and 

 branches from external injury, but from the hurtful 

 extremes of heat and cold? What evident marks 

 of wisdom and design do the Flowers evince in their 

 beautiful and delicate construction ! how nicely are 

 they formed for the protection and nourishment of 

 the first and tender rudiments of the fruit ! and when 

 it has attained more firmness and solidity, how 



