Of Vegetation. 335 



from r to ;/, being younger, extended fome- 

 thing more ; and the third joint, from n to k, 

 extended from \ of an inch, to 3 + jl inches; 

 but from k to b y the very tender joint, which 

 was but £ inch long, when I marked it, was, 

 when full grown, three inches long. 



We may obferve, that Nature, in order 

 to fupply thefe young growing (hoots witk 

 plenty of ductile matter, is very careful to 

 furnifh, at fmall diftances, the young (hoots of 

 all forts of trees with many leaves throughout 

 their whole length, which ferve as fo many 

 jointly acting powers placed at different (la- 

 tions, thereby to draw with more eafe plenty 

 of fap to the extending fhoot. 



The like provifion has Nature made in 

 the Corn, Grafs, Cane, and Reed-kind j the 

 leafy fpires, which draw the nourifliment to 

 each joint, being provided long before the 

 (lem (hoots; which (lender ftem, in its ten- 

 der ductile (late, would mod: eafily break, 

 and dry up too foon, fo as to prevent its due 

 growth, had not Nature, to prevent both 

 thefe inconveniencies, provided (Irong Thecas 

 or Scabbards, which both fupport and keep 

 long, in a fupple ductile (late, the tender 

 extending (lem. 



