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lified the earth was to carry out a tall tree : 

 Becaufe the reclining pofture of their lower 

 boughs fomething downward, is fuch (and 

 that is ever the cafe when they are loaded 

 with leaves) that, they draw to themfelves 

 the afcending fap in the body, like fo many 

 artificial Syphons^ fo that the fap in order to 

 a higher afcent cannot flip by — 



Why this fhould obftrud: the clear fpiral 

 growth and boiar height of an Oak, may be 

 ealily conceived, if we confider that the roots 

 of fuch great boughs, have croft and broke 

 the perpendicular fap tubes in the body, 

 which to be fure contribute moftly to any 

 trees afpiring^ and acquired fo clofe a u- 

 nion with them, that they draw all the fap 

 arifing therein to themfelves, and whatever 

 more they can extra(5l from other parts by 

 lateral fu(2:ion, or (call it) attrad:ion. And 

 by that means keep the upper boughs in 

 too weak a condition, ever to become their 

 fuperiors in the fenfe meant — And if the 

 foil be weak, it is very frequent for the top, 

 and boughs near the top, to die — Hence 

 were there not frequent dafhes of rain, and 

 great dews in fummer, which the upper 

 boughs have the largell lliare of 3 there 



M would 



