Chap. I. Of Roots and Leaves. 7 



And this great Length of Roots will appear very 

 reafonable, if we compare the Largenefs of the Leaves 

 (which are the Parts ordain'd for Excretion) with the?. 

 Smalnefs of the Capillary Roots, which muft make 

 up in Length or Number what they want in Bignefs, 

 being deftin'd to range far in the Earth, to find out 

 a Supply of Matter to maintain the whole Plant •, 

 whereas the chief Office of the Stalks and Leaves is 

 only to receive the fame, and to difcharge into the 

 Atmofphere fuch Part thereof as is found unfit for 

 Nutrition ; a much eafier Tafk than the other, and 

 confequently fewer PalTages fuffice, thefe ending in 

 an obtufe Form*, for otherwife the Air would not be 

 able to fuftain the Stalks and Leaves in their upright 

 Pofture: but the Roots, tho' very weak and (lender, 

 are eafily fupported by the Earth, notwithstanding 

 their Length, Smalnefs, and Flexibility. 



Plants have no Stomach, nor Oefophagus, which 

 are necelTary to convey the Mais of Food to an Ani- 

 mal : Which Mafs, being exhaufted by the Lacteals, 

 iseliminated by way of Execrements, but the Earth 

 itfelf being that Mafs to the Guts (or Roots) of 

 Plants, they have only fine Recrements, which are 

 thrown off by the Leaves. 



In this, Animal and Vegetable Bodies agree, that 

 Guts and Roots are both injured by the open Air; 

 and Nature has taken an equal Care, that both may 

 be fupply'd withNourimment, withoutbeingexpos'd 

 to it. Guts are fupply'd from their Infides, and 

 Roots from their Outrides. 



All the Nutriment (or Pabulum) which Guts re- 

 ceive for the Ufe of an Animal, is brought to them ; 

 but Roots mud fearch out and fetch themfelves all 

 the Pabulum of a Plant ; therefore a greater Quantity 

 of Roots, in Length or Number, is neceflary to a 

 Plant, than of Guts to an Animal. 



All RcctszYezs the Interlines of Animals, and have 



' - Mouths or LaetealVeffelsopeningon their outer 



b 4 fp° n gy 



