Of Vegetation . 335 
withftanding their being diftended, from the 
like effe£fe in melted glafs tubes, which re- 
tain a hollownefs, tho* drawn out to the 
fineft thread. 
The whole progrefs of the firft joint r 
is very fliort in comparifon of the other 
joints $ becaufe, at firft fetting out its leaves 
being very fmall, and the feafon yet cooler 
than afterwards, 'tis probable, that but lit- 
tle fap is conveyed to it 5 and therefore it ex- 
tending but (lowly, its fibres are in the 
mean time grown tough and hard, before 
it can arrive to any confiderable length 
But as the feafon advances, and the leaves 
inlarge, greater plenty of nourifliment be- 
ing thereby conveyed, the fecond joint 
grows longer than the firft, and the 3d and 
4th (till on gradually longer than the pre- 
ceding; thefe do therefore in equal times 
make greater advances than the former. 
The wetter the feafon, the longer and 
larger (hoots do vegetables ufually make; 
becaufe their foft dudile parts do then com 
tinue longer in a moift, tender ftate ; but 
in a dry feafon the fibres fooner harden, and 
flop the further growth of the (hoot; and 
this may probably be one reafon why the 
two or three lad joints of every (hoot are 
ufually 
