*eci\ xi. 



VEGETATION. 



17 



As to certain plants appearing where none were be- 

 fore, we know that fome feeds will keep many years, 

 * when deep buried, and being afterwards brought to the 

 furface, have vegetated, as the wild tnujiard, &c. Be- 

 fides the wind carrying fome forts of feeds to a conft- 

 derable diftance, birds alfo drop a great many, fo 

 that plantations of oaks, &c. have fprung Bp by means 

 of crows carrying the acorns, and dropping them in 

 cracked ground. 



Plants follow feed, and we find them proceeding 

 in a fteady unceafing progreffion towards ~ maturity, to 

 their deftined end, i.e. production of the like, from 

 which they fprung (feed) to preferve the fpecies. 

 And the economy of nature is fo regular, that a cer- 

 tain portion of time is invariably kept (allowing for 

 accidental circumilances) for this bufinefs. So cer- 

 tainly does Nature purfue her end in all refpefts, 

 that the identical fpecies is always preferved, as to 

 the diftinguifhing properties of each, though the foils 

 in which feeds are fown are fo various. Altogether 

 under the fame circumftances are produced the fweet 

 fmelling flower, the nourifhing corn, and the poifonous 

 plant, though differing much in ftrength, in figure, and 

 other particulars. 



The juices in the veffels of plants undergo (accord- 

 ing to their conformation) different fermentations, and 

 thus become altered; in which chemiftry of nature, 

 its powers and refults are wonderfully exaft. 



Peculiar pores peculiar juice receive. 

 To this deny, to that admittance give. 

 Hence various trees their various fruits produce. 

 Some for delightful tafte, and fome for ufe, 

 Hence fprouting plants enrich the plain and wood. 

 For phyfic fome, and fome defign'd for food. 

 Hence fragrant fiow'rs with different colours dy'd, 

 On fmiling meads unfold their gaudy pride. 



Blackmore* 



The 



