SKKDS OP PLANTS. 
43 
between the various cylinders of ibc bark aud rind*, -the 1'],^ m.-vscs of 
bark mailer, in-itead of being confined in regular vessels, as is “* 
generally supposed, is found in masses which increase and 
congeal till ilic warmth of the summer again lenders them 
liquid, and confines the’m within their proper cylinders. Ills 
in iliesc masses the criptogamia plants are formed ; it is here 
lliey originate and nourish their roots j and these sprigs have, 
I doubt not, much pnzxled others as well as m)self. J have 
long been actjuainied with them, from having f^si found them 
in the grasses and grainsf. But when I first discovead the 
seeds in the alburniun, 1 concluded that it was a criptogamia, 
only more advanced within the interior ; and as I had known 
the viscum album, and several others of the parasite plants, 
throw their rooLs even into the wood, it was natural 1 should 
suppose it a new plant of tlii.s kind not yet noticed ■, till, with 
astonishment, 1 traced it from part to part, and at last saw the 
seeds enter the buds ; but there is a proof which com(detdy P;»ra'it<* 
draws a line between all that is formed within the plant, and 
appertains to it, and that which is a stranger ciily supported and 
nourished by it. In tlic first ca'e, it always ^hoots perpendi- 
cularly ; but in the latter, let it run ever so lar between iho 
cylinders, it always strikes out at last, a:ul iberefore shoots hori- 
zontally. This will, at least, serve to ascertain which are ctip- 
• Till I Ibiinil the iniiumcr.ihte jv-.iasiio plants belwrcn thi folds or 
cylimlcvs ot tiie bark ami rind. I never ehiild arraniit for that idea 
of Linnieiks, ttiat it lequired five year; to eon:pt*te llie feltnarioii and 
evolatioiis ot a branch ; eacii year coinposiug one p:irt ; r.ud that lUey 
then came forth ill llicir pel feet . <taie. I have no tiuibt that he was 
aequainteJ with these cript ;;ainia I have de'-ciibvd, and ."^i.ppcsed 
that they boonred to the identic.!! [:!ai t on which tLiv were reared, 
and by wliicli Mipported. I never foUowvd an idea of tins truly creaf 
man. that it did not lead to a discovery shew in;' hi.s pt rfect knowledge 
of tlie forms of plants. His wjsLi.Vfs are often more valeable than the 
knon lcdj't ot others. 
t In the wlK'at alone I havelVtinul liinv ; and in a tree they are often 
known by the variously formed ent.s that are made through the rind 
lo Jet out tlie plant, or admit air to tile seeds, the cripioganiia being 
j'snerally too small to be seen vviUiout strong uiagmlius. 
togamia 
