OF NATURAL HISTORY. 37 



Each of them extracts its noiirifhment from a common fluid ; 

 and, in both, this fluid is changed, by the acSlion of veflels, 

 into the various juices peculiar to the different fpecies. 



When growth flrfl: commences, the embryos of plants and 

 animals are in fimilar circumftances. Soon after conception, 

 the foetus is inclofed in its membranes, and is nouriflied, till 

 mature for birth, by blood which it receives from the uterus 

 and placenta. In the fame manner, the embryo of a plant is 

 inclofed in the membranes of the feed ; and its fibrous roots 

 are fpread over the lobes or pulpy part. After the feed is 

 fown, and vegetation commences, the embryo is nouriflied by 

 moifture, which the lobes abforb from the earth, and convey 

 it to the minute tubes of the feminal root. In many plants, 

 thefe lobes rife above the furface of the ground, in the form 

 of leaves, and continue to nourifli and prote^l the tender 

 plume or ftem, till it acquires flrength fufhcient to fupport 

 the aflaults of the air and weather. A plant, in this fltuation, 

 may be faid lo have two roots ; one, the fibres of which are 

 dilFufed through the fubflance of the lobes, or feminal leaves, 

 and another attached to the foil. 



The nourifhment thus conveyed to vegetables by the fem- 

 inal leaves, is extremely analogous to that of animals by the 

 milk of the mother. The texture of young animals is fo lax 

 and unelaftic, that the food fuited to maturer years v/ould 

 foon put a period to their exiftence. But Nature has provi- 

 ded againil this inconveniency. She has endowed females 

 with a fet of vefTels deftined for the fecretion of a mild liquor, 

 fo far conco(^ed and animalized as to be adapted to the ten- 

 der and flaccid condition of their young. A fimilar provi- 

 fion of nourifhment is afforded to the young vegetable. For 

 fome time after the plume and radicle have begun to ihoot, 

 their texture is fo extremely tender, that they are unable to 

 fupport each other without fome foreign aid. This aid is af- 

 forded them by the feminal leaves. Thefe leaves abforb dews, 



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