26 THEPHILOSOPHY 



in both, this fluid is changed, hj the a£tlon of vefiels, into the varl- 

 ous juices peculiar to the different fpecies. 



When growth firfl: commences, the embryos of plants and ani- 

 mals are in fimilar circumftances. Soon after conception, the foe- 

 tus is inclofed in its membranes, and is nourifhed, till mature for 

 birth, by blood which it receives from the uterus and placenta. In 

 the fame manner, the embryo of a plant is inclofed in the mem- 

 branes of the feed J" and its fibrous roots are fpread over the lobes 

 or pulpy part. After the feed is fown, and vegetation commences, 

 the embryo is nourifhed by molfture, which the lobes abforb from 

 the earth, and convey it to the minute tubes of the feminal root. 

 In many plants, thefe lobes rife above the furface of the ground, in 

 the form of leaves, and continue to nourifh and protedl the tender 

 plumj or ftem, till it acquires ftrength fufficient to fupport the af- 

 faults of the air and weather. A plant, in this fituation, may be 

 faid to have two roots ; one, the fibres of which are diffufed 

 through the fubftance of the lobes, or feminal leaves, and another 

 attached to the foil. 



The nourifhment thus conveyed to vegetables by the feminal 

 leaves, is extremely analogous to that of animals by the milk of the 

 mother. The texture of young animals is fo lax and unelaftic, that 

 the food fuited to maturer years would foon put a period to their 

 exiftence. But Nature has provided againft this inconveniency. 

 She has endowed females with a fet of vefTels deflined for the fecre- 

 tion of a mild liquor, fo far concoded and animalized as to be 

 adapted to the tender and flaccid condition of their young. A fi- 

 milar provifion of nourifhment is afforded to the young vegetable. 

 For fome time after the plume and radicle have begun to fhoot,, 

 their texture is fo extremely tender, that they are unable to fupport 

 sack other without fome foreign aid. This aid is afforded them by 



the. 



