276 
MOTIONS IN PLANTS, 
IHistakc in 
siipposiog 
them perspi- 
ration. 
Strange sys- 
tem. 
Taiions com. 
1)inations re- 
quired for the 
support of the 
plant. 
interior of the hair, so smeared and dirty, so like a glassf 
that has had the oil within it, that it is impossible for a moment 
to^doubt its identity. But, if the smallest unbelief with re- 
spect to the nature of the fluid can remain after seeing if, which 
I should conceive impossible, keep it in a dry Situation for a 
day, and it will arrest the oil, make it grow foetid and black, 
it will smear and dirty the hair within as it disappears and 
enters the plant, and leave no doubt on the mind. I now find 
that they are to be discovered in almost every plant : but in 
the melon and cucumber they are best seen, and most beauti- 
ful } for the oil is so very clear, and the hairs so very transpa- 
rent, that it is impossible to view them without astonishment 
and admiration. But it is not oil alone that is thns admi- 
nistered ; many liquids and juices are poured into the plant by 
this means; innumerable combinations formed, if we may 
judge by the variety of colours a single vegetable will often 
protrude. And it was all these that were taken for the perspi- 
ration ! Does it not prove how greatly the philosopheis of the 
last age were mistaken for want of applying a microscope to 
the objects they beheld ? Too ready to form a system, instead 
of to enlighten a fact, they went on building edifice on edi- 
fice, without considering that their foundation was not secure. 
But it is difficult for great minds to apply to minute objects. 
That all they called perspiration are figures of different forms, 
certainly intended to draw moisture to the vegetable, rather 
than give it out : for that a plant should be capable of yielding 
oxigen all day, and water also in such quantities, alwa)'S ap- 
peared to me against common sense ; since it bad besides to 
nourish itself, and to form all the various combinations neces- 
sary to its existence. Bat when we contemplate the reality of 
its formation, behold it not only receiving from the root that 
quantity of sap required to form its ever-increasing wood, with 
innumerable glutinous bladders protruded round the root to 
assist in creating the blood of the plant j when we see the 
instruments covering the cuticle of the leaves and stems, not 
more various in their form than beautiful in their colours, an- 
nouncing, by the many juices they bring to their assistance, the 
variety 
