162 



Microscopical Essays. 



A Method of filling the Sap Vessels of Plants. 



A great many {hoots of the fcarlet and other oaks are to be 

 taken off in the fpring ; they mull be cut into pieces of about two 

 inches in length, and immediately from the cutting they muft 

 drop into fome warm rain water: in this they are to fland 

 twenty-four hours, and then be boiled a little. When taken out, 

 they are to be tied on firings, and hung up m a place where the 

 air pafTes freely, but the fun does not mine. When they are 

 perfectly dry, a large quantity of green wax, fuch as is ufed for 

 the feals of law deeds, is to be gently melted in an earthen pipkin 

 fet in water ; the water to be heated and kept boiling. As foon 

 as the wax runs, the flicks are to be put in, and they are fre- 

 quently to be flirred about. They muft be kept in this flate 

 about an hour, and then the pipkin is to be taken out of the 

 water, and fet upon a naked fire, where it is to be kept with the 

 wax boiling for two or three hours ; frefh fupplies of the fame 

 wax being added from time to time. 



After this it is to be removed from the fire, and the flicks im- 

 mediately taken out with a pair of nippers ; when they are cold, 

 the rough wax about them is to be broken off. Both ends of 

 each flick are to be cut off half an inch long, and thrown a way, 

 and the middle pieces faved. Thefe are then to be cut in fmaller 

 lengths, fmoothed at the ends with a fine chiflel, and many of 

 them fplit in various thicknefTes. 



Thus are obtained preparations, not only of great ufe, but of 

 a wonderful beauty. Many trees this way afford handfome ob- 

 jects as well as the oak ; and in fome, where the fap veffels are 



■r-J few,., 



