5 54 Of Vegetation. 



And where the lateral branches are very 

 vigorous, fo as to make ftrong moots, and 

 attract the nourimment plentifully, there the 

 tree ufually abates in its height : But where 

 the tree prevails in height, as in groves, there 

 commonly its lateral branches are fmalleft. 

 So that we may look upon a tree as a com- 

 plicated Engine, which has as many different 

 powers as it has arms and branches, each 

 drawing from their common fountain of life 

 the root : and the whole of each yearly growth 

 of the tree will be proportionable to the fum 

 of their attracting powers, and the quantity 

 of nourimment the root affords : But this at- 

 tracting power and nourimment will be more 

 or lefs, according to the different ages of the 

 tree, and the more or lefs kindly feafons of 

 the year. 



And the proportional growth of their late- 

 ral and top branches, in relation to each other, 

 will much depend on the difference of their 

 feveral attracting powers. If the peripiration 

 and attraction of the lateral brances is little 

 or nothing, as in woods and groves, then the 

 top branches will mightily prevail -, but when 

 in a free open air the perfpiration and attra- 

 ction of the lateral branches comes nearer to 

 an equality with that of the top, then are the 



afpi- 



