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THE feventh curious Experiment of Mr.Hales’s Vegetable Staticks, p.28. 
on the Dwarf-Pear Tree, and Branches of Apple, Pear, Cherry, and 
Apricot Trees, are undeniable Proofs of the great Ufes of Leaves to 
Fruits, which I defire every Gardener to well confider, and be not too 
much. puffed up with their own Conceits. 
THE firft Part of this Experiment was made on a Dwarf-Pear Tree, 
taken up in Auguft, whofe Weight (clear from Earth) was 71 Pounds 
one half; and its Roots being fet in a known Quantity of Water, im- 
bibed 15 Pounds thereof in 10 Hours, and perfpired at the very 
fame Time, 15 Pounds one half; therefore it perfpired eight Ounces 
more than it imbibed. This feems to inform us that Pear-Trees delight 
in Moifture, and that thofe who imagind that all che Moifture im- 
bibed by Trees, was wholly converted into Sap, and the Formation of 
Buds, Branches, ¢oc. are entirely miftaken ; for if twas fo, the Pear-Tree 
would have retain’d the whole Quantity imbibed, which it did not do. 
THE other Part of this Experiment, on the feveral Branches which 
this curious Gentleman made, is a further Proof, that the Quantity of 
Moifture attracted, is always in Proportion to the Quantity of Leaves. 
AS for Example : 
HAVING made Choice of cep Branches of every Kind of Fruit, 
he ftripp’d the Leaves off one Branch of each Sort, and then fet their 
Stems in feparate Glaffes, wherein were known Quantities of Water. 
- THE Branches with Leaves imbibed large Quantities of Water, as 
fome 15, 20, 25, and.30 Ounces, in 12 Hours Day, according to the 
Quantity of Leaves on each ; and being weigh’d in the Evening, were 
lighter than in the Morning. 
WHILE the others that were ftripp'd of their Leaves, had imbibed 
but very little, as an Ounce, go. each, were heavier in the Evening, 
they having perfpired little, 
i 
NOW 
