La 
WA GAMHL“AS 
Se 
HE \ S, 
Of TREES, SHRUBS, and PLANTS, 
OF THE 
Pruniferous K IL N D. 
BOOK VIL. . 
The BEARDED F1G-FReEE, Ficus Bengalienfis. 
Tree, are fomany, that it would be endlefs to particularize them; 
at leaft, it would be an ungrateful Tafk to one who withes they 
had left no Room for Correftion. The Roots of it are many and large: 
The Body of the Tree, when old, is rather a Compofition of many joined 
irregularly together, than one undivided Trunk. This is occafioned by 
the furprifing Manner that this Tree is naturally propagated ; for from 
its Branches iffue, at unequal Diftances, feveral Tufts of ftringy Filaments, 
each in Subftance and Make about as thick as the Bafe-ftring of a Violin. 
Thefe grow always downwards, perpendicular to the Earth, and wher 
they are fome Feet in Length, the Part next the Branch confolidates into 
firm Wood, whilft the lower Parts hang wavingly downwards in fo many 
loofe-twifted Shreds or Filaments; but when thefe grow to reach the 
Ground, they take Root, unite into firm Wood as the upper Part; and 
in a fhort time grow to a confiderable Bulk, affording great Increale 
of Nourifhment to its once Parent-Branch; by which means this grow’ 
large, and produces other progreflive, lateral, as well as many upright 
Branches; thefe, in like manner, efpecially, the progreflive Branches, 2f 
2 thelr 
aie HE Miftakes of many Authors, in their Defcription of this 
