Oj Vegetation. 331 
growth, when I marked it : The next joint, 
from r tow, being younger, extended fomc- 
thing more ; and the third joynt from nxok 
extended from i of an inch, to 5 t 
inches 5 but from k to h, the very tender 
joynt, which was but f inch long, when I 
marked it, was when full grown three inches 
long. 
We may obferve, that nature in order 
to furnifh thefe young growing fhoots with 
plenty of dudile matter fs very careful to 
furnilh at fmall diftances the young (hoots 
of all forts of trees , with many leaves 
throughout their whole length, v/hich ferve 
as fo many joyntly ading powers placed at 
different ftations, thereby to draw with more 
cafe plenty of fap to the extending fhoot. 
The like provifion has nature made in 
the Corn, Grafs, Cane, and Reed kind 5 the 
leafy fpires, which draw the nourifhment 
to each joynt, being provided long before 
|he ftem (hoots, which flender flem in 
its tender dudile (late would mod eafily 
break and dry up too foon, fo as to pre- 
vent its due growth, had not nature to 
prevent both thefe inconveniences provided 
ftrong Thecas or Scabbards^ wliich both fup- 
port 
