Of Vegetation. 33 3 
from r to 0, being younger, extended fome- 
thing more $ and the third joint from ntok 
extended from \ of an inch, to 3 -J- f 
inches \ but from k to h, the very tender 
joint, which was but 4 inch long, when I 
marked it, was when full grown three in- 
ches long. 
We may obferve, that nature in order 
to fupply thefe young growing fhoots with 
plenty of du&ile matter is very careful to 
furnifh at fmall diftances the young fhoots 
of all forts of trees, with many leaves 
throughout their whole length, which ferve 
as fo many jointly afting powers placed at 
different ftations, thereby to draw with more 
cafe plenty of fap to the extending fhoot. 
The like provifton has nature made in 
the Corn, Grafs, Cane, and Reed kind 5 the 
leafy fpires, which draw the nourifhment 
to each joint, being provided long before 
the ftem fhoots, which {lender ftem in 
its tender du&ile ftate would moft 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 , which both fup- 
port and keep long in a fupple du&ile 
$ate the tender extending ftem. 
I marked 
