SECT. II. VEGETATION. 21 



covered m them, though the time of their blow is not 

 till February. 



Thus it appears, that the leaves, bloflbms, fruit, 

 and branches, on all trees, are formed the year before; 

 and fo their fruitfulnefs in the year they bear, is no 

 otherwife the confequence of that feafon, than that 

 nature has gone without any deftru&ive check in her 

 progrefs, and particularly at the time of flowering, 

 when many bloflbms are deftroyed by inclement wea- 

 ther, and by wet only as much as any thing. 



„ * * * * * * 



The flowers of plants have not yet been particu- 

 larly noticed, but of them fomething mull, and much- 

 might, be faid. 



Go, mark the matchlefs workings of the power 

 That Ihuts within the feed the future floixer; 

 Bids thefe in elegance of form excel, 

 In colour thefe, and thofe delight the fmell ; 

 Sends nature forth, the daughter of the Ikies, 

 To dance on earth, and charm all human eyes. 



CoWPER, 



Flowers have a general flruclure in fubftance, fimilar 

 to the other parts of plants, as to veffels for fap, air, &c. 

 only are fo much the more exquifitely formed, as the 

 leaves are of fo delicate a texture. They are formed 

 in the bud while in the pith, and fo confequently are 

 the fruit and feed. 



The flowers of many proceed from a bud, or knot, 

 the leaves or parts of which do firft cover the flower 

 contained therein, whilft it is yet unable to bear the 

 inconveniencies of the weather, and defend it from the 

 fame; and after the flower is blown, they keep up its 

 leaves, that they may not hang confufedly together, 

 but regularly reprefent their beauties to the eyes of the 

 beholders: This is exemplified in the carnation. 

 Thefe flowers that have a cup to fuftain their leaves, 



are 



