NATURAL PHILOSOPHY, CHEMISTRY, 



AND 



THE ARTS. 



DECEMBER, 1812. 



ARTICLE I. 



On the Growth or Increase of Trees : ly Mrs. Agnes Ibiet- 



' SON. 



I 



To Mr. Nicholson. 



SIR, 

 HAVE before proved, that there is a vital principle in all 



plants, from which all flowers proceed ; from which the 

 seed is formed, and from which the interior bud is protruded. 

 I have also shown, that in all plants which rise yearly from the 

 earth, whether annual or p'erennial, the buds shoot from the 

 root ; but in all trees and shrubs, from the nearest line of life, 

 which is that vifa/ pur/ adjoining the pith. The next matter rp^ ^j^q^ ^^^ 

 of importance to the development of the nature of trees is manner of the 

 to know and understand, as exactly as possible, how they ira- Iffg^**'^ 

 crease in size. That the wood is enlarged by an additional cy- 

 linder each year, we are well apprised ; and that a new shoot 

 is formed each spring and autumn, we also know : but here our 

 knowledge ends^ No one has ever attempted to inquire in 

 what manner that stripe is added, or what preparations nature 

 makes for the purpose : satisfied with the result, they seek no 

 farther, though, without knowing it, the existence of a tree is 

 Vol. XXXIII, No. 154.--DECBMBEii, 1812. R un- 



