i 



OF POREST-TREES. II9 



CHAP. Vll. 



Of the INFIRWriTIES of TREES, 8^c. 



So many are the infirmities and sicknesses of trees ^ and indeed CHAP. VI L 

 infirmities of the whole family of vegetables, that it were almost im- ""-^"^T^^ 

 possible to enumerate and make a just catalogue of them, and as difficult 

 to find such infallible cures and remedies as could be desired, the effects 



Vegetables cannot be supposed to be subject to infirmities, unless we allow them to be 

 organized bodies, and endued with life. That they have life, may be proved from the 

 following considerations: 1. Their Motion; 2. Anatomy; 3. Generation; 4. Age; 

 5. Diseases; 6. Death. 



1. MOTION. It is evident that a dead body has no motion of its own ; if therefore 

 any body has spontaneous motion, it must also have life : for proper and internal motion 

 in every body depends on the spontaneous propulsion of fluids, and where such a propul- 

 sion of fluids is, there is life. That there is motion in plants, is apparent to every one ; 

 e. g. herbs in green-houses, or stoves, incline or turn towai-ds the light. When shut up, 

 if they find a hole in the wall, shutters, or frames, there they endeavour to penetrate. 

 Several plants, especially those with compound yellow flowers, during the whole day turn 

 their flowers toward the sun ; to wit, to the east in the morning, to the south at noon, and 

 to the west toward evening ; and this is observable in the sun-flower and other plants. 

 I believe every body knows, that the greatest number of plants in a serene sky, expand 

 tjieir flov/ers, and as it were, with cheerful looks behold the light of the sun ; but befoi-e 

 rain they shut them up ; e. g, the tulip. The flowers of the Draba Alpina, Alpine Whit- 

 low Grass, the Partheniiim folils ovatis crenatis, Bastard Feverfew with egg-shaped, crenated 

 leaves, and the Tricnialis, or Winter-green, hang down in the night, as if the plants were 

 asleep, lest rain or the moist air should injure the fertilizing dust. The Trefoils, and 

 one species of Wood-sorrel, shut up or double their leaves before storms and tempests, 

 but in a serene sky expand or unfold them, so that from them the husbandman can pretty 

 clearly foretel an approaching storm. And it is well known that the Bauhinia, or Mountain 

 Ebony, sensitive plants, and Cassia, observe the same rule. The flowers of Goat's Beard 

 open in the morning at the approach of the sun, and shut about noon; hence it Is called 

 John-go-to-bed-at-noon. Parlcinsonia, Tamarind-tree, JEscliynommc, or Bastard Sensitive 

 Plant, and several others of the Diadelphia class, in serene weather expand their leaves 

 in the day-time, and contract them in the night. The Tamarind-tree is said, by Alpinus 

 and Acosta, to enfold within its leaves the flowers or fruit every night, to guard them from 

 cold or rain. This seemed like a paradox to Syenus and Ray : but the flower-stalk with 

 the flower or fruit lies upon the winged leaves, fi'om the bosom of which it springs ; hence 

 it is, that while the leaves fold themselves up every night, they shut up or enclose the fruc- 

 tification within them. Some of the M??Ko«i?, or sensitive plants, and the Oxalis, or Wood- 

 sorrel with pinnated leaves, upon being touched, roll up their leaves, and turn downwards 



Q 2 



