CONCERNING SECT. II ♦ 



fo that the principal rib fends out lateral ones lefs 

 ftrong, and they again an infinite number of fine ones 

 in all directions ; and thefe are veffels of two kinds, 

 viz. for fap and air. As leaves throw off a great deal 

 of excrementitiou£, fo do they imbibe a great deal of 

 nutritious moifture, as is evident from the general re- 

 frelhments received from dews. Yet we are not to 

 conclude, that the other parts of plants do not the fame 

 in a lefs degree ; and the rough bark of the trees, and 

 the outer veffels, are well calculated to detain moifture, 

 to convey to other parts. 



The branches of plants come next to be confi- 

 dered. How beautifully do they fpread 5 and how uni- 

 formly do they proceed, keeping up precifely the fame 

 mode of growth, one from another throughout the 

 whole; till the head of the plant, or tree, attains its 

 cullomary fize, and own peculiar form ; which if it 

 has grown with native liberty, proves always of an 

 agreeable fymmetry. 



The texture of branches confifts of the fame kind 

 of veffels as the ftem, or trunk ; but here it may be 

 obferved, that there is yet a fpecific difference in the 

 veffels of the various parts, as is concluded from their 

 affording juices of a different flavour and effluvia in 

 the bark, wood, leaves, flowers and feeds; fo that 

 from the fame plant are extra&ed medical properties 

 of very contrary nature. 



Buds are like feeds, as they contain the future 

 growth of branches and fruit in miniature, fo that for 

 mftance, in the buds of a currant-tree may be difco- 

 vered (by a microfcope) even before winter, the woody- 

 branch, and the bunches of fruit. The future fruit 

 alfo has been viewed in the bud of a vine. In the 

 fhort buds of pears ', which appear at Midfummer, an 

 indifferent microfcope will (hew the bloffoms defigned 

 for the April following. The buds of a Mezerion 

 being examined at Midfurnmer, had the bloffoms difr 



covered 



