28 
FORMATION OF SEEDS. 
sap vessels will be discovered, I used to think it was because the 
cylinders were so fluted 3 as in botany small vessels almost 
always surround the large ones : but I was mistaken 3 I have 
y-acancies now solved the mystery 3 they are vacancies not vessels 3 and 
vessels. 0 Sap is the reason why in each horizontal layer of wood, the 
sap holes are worked back with spiral wire, just like a button 
hole, to prevent the interference of any part of the net or 
threads filling up the apertures intended for the current of sap. 
This will also evidently shew that now they are known, they are 
too plainly marked, and too exactly delineated not to strike the 
eye, if, therefore, there were any in the bark, that part could 
not be dissected (in the manner I have done it, vessel from 
No returning vessel) without their being perceived. But there certainly are 
isthe ^ bark CS n0 return i n g sap vessels or vacancies in the bark 3 in showing 
which trees best exemplify the seeds coming from the root, I 
should have mentioned the jirs : particularly the larch, which 
so admirably distinguishes the completion’ of both seeds and 
pollen j for as they are both formed out of their cases, and that 
the male and female flowers are separate, the essence of the 
seed is in the beautiful red flower seen to coagulate at its com- 
mencement, while the empty seed vessels are all arranged in 
their proper places, at a vessel projecting (See Fig. 6 ee.) to 
receive the seeds, which soon begin to mount, and in less than 
a week, (if in increasing ripe flowers are taken) will be found 
at last, all to have arranged themselves in the seed vessels 
according to the manner appropriated to the plant, and 
the coagulated quantity below will almost ail have disap- 
peared, and if the male flower is taken, the pollen will be 
found in the same manner to have collected from the middle of 
the stem, and arranged itself at the bottom of the flower, and 
will be all carried up, not as in the seeds through a vessel like 
the alburnum , but through the ‘middle of the flower, to the 
stamen cases, which they enter. Both these processes are so 
plain, so easily seen, (now they are pointed out) that every one 
may behold them, with no very powerful magnifier, if they 
will cut the flowers through the middle, then take off an even 
slice 3 and the pollen and seeds being divided, makes it far 
The screw to more c * ear anc * absolute. I promised also to show that sort of 
protect the acrew which in herbaceous plants prevents the roots which are 
roo^ aCe ° US permanent, from being hurt by the settling of the water in 
the 
