8 Of Roots W Leaves. Chap. I. 



fpongy Superficies, as the Guts of Animals have 

 theirs opening in their inner fpongy Superficies. 



The Animal Lacteals take in their Food by the 

 PrefTure that is made from the Periftaltic Motion, 

 and that Motion caus'd by the Action of Refpiration, 

 both which Motions prefs the Mouths of the Lacteals 

 againfl: the Mafs or Soil which is within the Guts, 

 and bring them into clofer Contact with it. 



Both thefe Motions are fupply'd in Roots by the 

 PrefTure occafion'd by the Increafe of their Diameters 

 in the Earth, which prefTes their Lacteal Mouths 

 againfl the Soil without. But in fuch Roots as live 

 in Water, a PrefTure is conflandy made againfl the 

 Roots by the Weight and Fluidity of the Water ; 

 this prefTes fuch fine Particles of Earth it contains, 

 and which come into Contact with their Mouths, the 

 clofer to them. 



And when Roots are in a til I'd Soil, a great Pref- 

 Ture is made againfl them by the Earth, which con- 

 flantly fubfides, and prefTes their Food clofer and 

 clofer, even into their Mouths •, until itfelf becomes 

 To hard and clofe, that the weak Sorts of Roots can 

 penetrate no farther into it, unlefs re-open'd by new 

 Tillage, which is calTd Hoing. 



When a good Number of Single-Mint Stalks had 

 flood in Water, until they were well flock'd with 

 Roots from their two lower Joints, and fome of 

 them from three Joints, Lfet one in a Mint-Glafs 

 full of Salt Water ; this Mint became perfectly dead 

 within "three Days. 



Another Mint I put into a Glafs of fair Water ; 

 but I immers'd one Stringof its Roots (being brought 

 over the Top of that Glafs into another Glafs of 

 Salt-water, contiguous to the Top of the other Glafs: 

 This Mint dy'd alio very foon. 



Of another (flanding in a Glafs of Water and Earth 

 till it grew vigorouily) I ty'd one fingle Root into a 

 Bag, which held a Spoonful of dry Salt, adjoining to 



the 



