S. VEGETABLE KINGD O M. 



2 1> Vegetable MECHANISM confifls of two contrary fubftances. 



The Corporeal external one, including, nourifhing, defcend- 

 ing, adhering to the earth, carefully furrounding the 

 pith, hardifh, growing with a very tender point. 



The internal Pith, or Medulla, included, vivifying, de- 

 liquifcent at thebafe,afcending at the point, infinite in multi- 

 plication in divifibility and in termination, enlivened at its cre- 

 ation, fecretly and gradually from its begining extends itfelf 

 where there is leaft refiftance, to its final exit ; where, the 

 more feebly it is confined by the corporeal part, the fooner 

 it breaks its prifon, about to undergo its metamorphofis ; 

 and efcaping joins itfelf with the corporeal part, that dif- 

 perfing itfelf into new lives the circle of vegetation may 

 be perennial. 



22. GERMINATION is produced from the <SWj being difperfed 



and abforbing water by the Hile ; whence the membranes are 

 burft by the bibulous fwelling Cotyledons-, which give nou- 

 riflimcnt to the Heart j till the Beak of the foetus puts out 

 Rootlets; by which the P/z^?.'7^ is elevated growing into an 

 annual Herh^ terminating in a fuper-decompounded Bud, 



23. VEGETATION Is produced by the Rootlets fucking up the aque- 



ous tindure of the Soil ; which, by daily addition of heat, 

 is eently driven through the vefTels of the external corporeal 

 part ', whence the nutrition of the exterior and interior plant, 

 the fuperfluous moifture exhaling, the Bark depofiting the 

 Rind on its interior furface, which annually changes itfelf 

 into a JVoody fubftance, (in Annual ringlets interfperfed with 

 the Alburnum, which at length almoft offifies as the lower 

 branches decay) this woody fubftance afterwards fuftains the 

 afcending Stock, in the fummits of which the living Pith 

 advances. 



I conceive the Medulla, cr Pith, to confift of a bundle of 

 equally diverging Nervous fibres ; in which medulla the pro- 

 trufive vital power breaks the ultimate nerves ; which there 

 diverging, penetrate the bark, as yet gelatinous ; where thefe 

 medullary nerves at the fummit are in like manner multiplied 

 in the Bud. From the vellel afcending through this nerve 

 being divided, and the afcent of the propelled fluid being im- 

 peded beneath, the bark is extended into a Leaf. 



This Leaf which is agitated by the pafTmg winds, attrails 

 and prepares the fluids (except thofe of the Parafite-PIantS, 

 which are prcviouny prepared,) inhales cledlric mater from 



the 



