Of Vegetation. 3 j i 



then thefc fupplemental feminal leaves,* ry*r, 

 being of no farther ufe, do perifh $ not only 

 becaufe the now grown and more expanded 

 leaves of the young plant or tree, do [6 

 everfhadow the fupplemental leaves, that 

 their former more plentiful perfpiration is 

 much abated 5 and thereby alfo their power 

 of attra&ing ftp fails 5 but alfo becaufe the 

 fap is drawn from them by the leaves, and 

 they being thus deprived of nourifhmenr, 

 do perifh. 



As the tree advances in ftature, the firft, 

 fecond, third, and fourth order of lateral 

 branches moot out, each lower order being 

 longer than thofe immediately above thcm$ 

 not only on account of primogeniture, but 

 alfo becaufe being inferted in larger parts 

 of the trunk, and nearer the root , they 

 have the advantage of being ferved with grea- 

 ter plenty of fap, whence arifes the beau- 

 tiful parabolical figure of trees. 



But when trees ftand thick together in 

 Woods or Groves, this their natural fhape 

 is altered, becaufe the lower lateral branches 

 being much {haded, they can perfpire little ; 

 and therefore drawing little nourifhment, 

 they periih 5 but the top branches, being 



expofed 



