Of Vegetation. 355 



afpirings of the top branches greatly checked. 

 And the cafe is the fame in moft other Vege- 

 tables, which, when they ftand thick toge- 

 ther, grow much in length with very weak 

 lateral moots. 



And as the leaves are thus ferviceable in 

 promoting the growth of a tree, we may ob- 

 ferve that Nature has placed the petals of the 

 leaves-ftalks where moft nourifhment is want- 

 ing, to produce leaves, moots and fruit ; and 

 fome fuch thin leafy expanfion is fo neceffary 

 for this purpofe, that Nature provides fmall 

 thin expanfions, which may be called pri- 

 mary leaves, that ferve to protect and draw 

 nourifhment to the young moot and leaf-buds, 

 before the leaf itfelf is expanded. 



And herein we fee the admirable contri- 

 vance of the Author of nature in adapting 

 her different ways of conveying nourifhment 

 to the different circumftances of her produ- 

 ctions. For in this embryo ftate of the buds 

 a fuitable proviiion is made to bring nou;ifh- 

 ment to them in a quantity fufficient for their 

 then fmall demands : But when they are in 

 fome degree increafed and formed, a much 

 greater quantity of nourifhment is neceifarv, 

 in proportion to their greater incteafe : Na- 

 ture, that fhe may then no longer fupply with 



A a 2 a 



