OF FOREST-TREES. 



155 



a more minute accomit of in the next impression of that excellent piece CHAP.VII. 

 of his ; nor had I anticipated it on this occasion, but to let the world ""^"V^^ 

 know, in the mean time, how ingeniously ready he is to acknowledge 

 the mistake, as he has been successful in discovering it. 



Deer, conies, and hares, by barking the trees in hard winters, spoil 



From this dissertation the reader may perceive how similar Nature is to herself, and how 

 exact in following her own laws in all her works. Who would ever believe so many truths 

 were discoverable concerning plants ? though, without doubt, there are many more that 

 remain still undiscovered. I shall conclude with the words of Pliny : that there is in 

 plants a natural instinct to generation ; and that the males, by a certain blast and subtle 

 powder, do consummate the nuptials on the females." — Nat. Hist. 



And now we are open upon the subject of generation, let us take a view of the analogy 

 between animal and vegetable parturition. The subject is curious, and, I believe, has 

 hitherto passed unnoticed ; I mean the parturition of an ear of corn. PI. 36, Fig. 1. repre- 

 sents an ear, or husk, of wheat, confined in what may be called the uterus, and within 

 a few days of delivery, a. The os uteri, b. b. The gravid uterus, the mouth of which is, 

 at this time, sealed up to keep out the dews and rain. Fig. 2. The uterus cut open, to shew 

 the ear in its natural situation, a. The os uteri, b. b. The uterus cut open. c. The ear. 

 Fig. 3. An ear of wheat after having passed through the os uteri. This may be called 

 a natural birth, a. The ear. b. The os uteri. As the fibres of the vegetable os uteri 

 are incapable of distention, the ring is divided, to allow a passage for the ear witliout 

 laceration, a. a. The uterus delivered of its burden. Fig. 4. An ear of wheat some days 

 after a natural delivery, a. The ear. b. The uterus contracted to its natural size. Fig. 5. 

 An ear of wheat, after having forced its way through the side of the uterus, the neck 

 being rendered impervious in consequence of being bent down by the action of the wind. 

 This may be called the Csesarean operation ; but which, from the peculiar structure of the 

 vegetable uterus, is not attended with danger, a. The os uteri, b. The neck of the 

 uterus, bent down by the action of the wind. c. c. The uterus, d. The ear, delivered in 

 a more easy way than in Fig, 6. Fig. 6. An ear of wheat in the act of foi-cing its way 

 through the side of the uterus, a. The as uteri. 6. The neck of the uterus bent down 



by the action of the wind, c. The ear forcing its passage through the side of the uterus . 



d. d. The uterus. On a careful examination, we find the uterus made up of a broad leaf 

 folded up into a tubular form, so that by a gentle lateral pressure of the ear, it is easily 

 unfolded. Had it been a perfect tube, parturition could never have been performed 

 without laceration, in cases where the neck of the uterus was bent down by natural 

 violence. This is a wise provision of the Author of Nature, to obviate frequent and 

 unavoidable accidents. And here it will be proper to remark, that the birth of the ear, or 

 husk, is previous to conception, the antherse and stigmata being at this time imperfectly 

 formed ; so that the vegetable has another birth to undergo, when the grain has arrived 

 at maturity. It is in this manner that God has thought proper to discover to our senses 



