Chap. I. O/Roots WLeaves. 13 



The two laft Mints fhew, that when the upper 

 Roots have Moifture (as they had in the Earth in the 

 Trough, carried thither firft by the lower Roots) they 

 impart fome of it to the lower, elfe thefe could not 

 have continu'd plump and frefh, as they did for 24 

 Hours in the empty Glafs. And I have fince ob- 

 ferved them to do fo, in the cooler Seafon of the 

 Year, for feveral Weeks together, without any other 

 Water, than what the upper Roots convey'd to them, 

 from the moiil Barth above in the Trough (a). I 

 know not what Time thefe Roots might continue to 

 be fupply'd thus in the hot Weather, becaufe I did 

 not try any longer, for fear of killing them. 



But it mufi be noted, thatthe Depth of the Glafs 

 protected the Roots therein from the Injury of the 

 Motion of the free Air, which would have dry'd 

 them, if they had been out of the Glafs. 



In this Trough is fhewn mofc of the Hoing Effects ; 

 viz. That Roots, by being broken off near the Ends, 

 increafe their Number, and fend out feveral where 

 one is broken off. 



That the Roots increafe their Fibres every time 

 the Earth is fcirr'd about them. 



That the ftirring the Earth makes the Plants grow 

 the f after. 



Leaves are the Parts or Bowels of a Plant, which 

 perform the fame Office to Sap, as the Lungs of an 

 Animal do to Blood ; that is, they purify or cleanfe 

 it of the Recrements, or fuliginous Steams, received 

 in the Circulation, being the unfit Parts of the Food •, 

 and perhaps fome decayed Particles, which fly off the 



(a) 'Tis certain, that Roots and other Chyle- VefTels of a 

 Plant have a free Communication throughout all their Cavities, 

 and the Liquor in them will run towards that Part where there is 

 lead Refiilancejand fuch isthat which is the moft empty, whether 

 it be above or below ; for there are no Values that can hinder the 

 Defcent or Afcent of Liquor in thefe Veffels, a& appears by the 

 growing of a Plant in an inverted Pofture. 



VefTels, 



