'( -38 ) 
it's nourishment by veffels apparently inferted 
into it's fupporters: this muft injure the plants 
on which it lives materially. Nor is this the 
only way by which it is deftruclive to it's 
fofter parent ; for no fooner does it arrive at 
a ftate of ftrength and vigour than it expands 
it's branches, and overpowers and fniothers 
it's protector. There are but few iriftances of 
fuch plants as cufcuta in the vegetable king- 
dom. In moft fituations the injury is fmall, 
which the fupporters of the climbing plants 
fuftain from the affiftance they afford to their 
more feeble brethren, as, generally, climbers 
have roots which ftrike into the earth, and 
thence draw nourishment. Some of this 
tribe of vegetables are made ufe of at our ta- 
bles ; the tops of hop plants are much fought 
after in fpring. 
Climbing plants are of fuch quick growth 
that their tops are always tender, and, when 
rendered mild by boiling, are agreeable food. 
The tops of white bryony (bryonia) are laid 
to be fweet and pleafant to the tafte. There 
is one plant of the parafite kind the hiflory 
of which is curious, as it appears to be fo 
from choice: it firft vegetates in the earth, and 
is fometimes found growing in itj nor has it 
