Chap. XI V. Of Change o/Species. 215 



The Doctor fays (c) ' It is not poffible to imagine 



« how one uniform, homogeneous Matter, having its 



t Principles, or original Parts, all of the fame Sub- 



c ftance, CprifUtution, Magnitude, Figure, and Gr^ 



* vity, fhould ever conftitute Bodies fo egregioufly 

 c unlike, in all thole Refpect.s, as Vegetables of dif- 

 c ferent Kinds are ; nay, even as the different I^arts 

 « of the feme Vegetable. 



c That there fhould be that va'ft Difference iii 

 c them, in their feveral Constitutions, Makes, Pro- 

 c perties, and Effects, and yet all arife from the very 

 w fame Sort of Matter, would be very fcrange.' 



Anfivcr. 'Tis very probable, that the terreftriai 

 Particles which conftitute Vegetables, tho' inconceiv- 

 abl < minute, may be ot great Variety of Figure, and 

 other Differences ; elfe they could not be capable of 

 the feveral Ferments, &c. they mud undergo in the 

 Veffels of Plants. Their Smalnefs can be no Objec- 

 tion to their Variety, fince even the Particles of Light 

 are of various Kinds. 



But as the Doctor afferts, 6 That each Part of the 



* fame Vegetable requires a peculiar fpecific Matter 



* for its Formation and Nourishment •, and that there 



* are very many and different Ingredients to go to the 

 c Compofition of the fame individual Plants •/ 



From hence mud be inferred, that the fame Plant 

 takes in very many and different Ingredients (and it 

 is proved, that no Plant refufes any Ingredient (d) 

 that is capable of entering its Roots. Tho' the ter- 

 reftrial Particles which nourifli Vegetables , be not 

 perfectly homogeneous -, yet moft of the various 



(r) InPhilcf. Tranf. No. 253. 



{d) Dr. Grew, in his Anatomy of Plants, by microfcopical 

 Infpection, found, that the outer Superficies of Roots was of a 

 fpongy Subftance; and 'tis well known, that no fuch Body can 

 refufe to imbibe whatever Liquor comes in Contact with it, but 

 Will by its fpringy Porofity abforb any fort of Moiiture. 



P 4 Taftes 



