VEGETABLE STRUCTURE. 
49 - 
Fibre ; their courfe, as feen in a longitudinal feflion, is feen at Fig 72. 
And if from thefe we diredl the eye to the tranfverfe and longitudinal- 
fedtion of a Fibre, Fig. 13, 14. we fhall fee the fame parts mod: diftindly; 
for the feven fubdances are the fame in the body of the Fibre, and in this 
fingular head at its extremity ; only that they are all larger, firmer, and 
more didindt in the body of the Fibre, and more tender, foft, and deli- 
cate in its head. Innumerable vefiels are fent from the Fledi of the Plant 
thro’ the Blea, as alfo from the Blea into the rinds in this part, for draw- 
ing nourifhment, but none pierce the furface. The v,hole coat is fpungy. 
That Nouridnnent which this part of the Root receives f om the 
earth, is not taken in at an open extremity, as was imagined ; but enters 
the fpungy cavities of this head ; and being received into its fubdance, pe- 
netrates, in the fame manner, the furfaces of thofe Fibres which run into 
this part from the other coats; and is thence didributed to the entire Plant, 
thro’ their vefiels. 
This fydem is new; but the eyes are its evidences. The fourth Mag- 
nifier of the common Double Microfeope fhews it didindtly enough to af- 
certain the fadi, that the end of a Fibre is a hollow head, where all the 
coats are continued round, and which has no opening: and the greater 
Magnifiers fhew the communications of the Vefibls as didindtly. 
The other opinion, that the extreme Fibres of Plants opened in a kind 
of Mouths at their ends, was, indeed, contradidtory to reafon ; for the 
Juices mud, in that cafe, have been received into the hollow where the 
Pith lies, whence there is no proper communication with the fix other 
fabdances of the Plant. Perhaps the nourifiiment of Animals is received 
in the fame manner, and the extremities of the Ladteals may be formed 
thus. One indance in animal nature there is which I have found plainly 
analagous : this is the Gordius, or Hair-worm. This creature has no 
mouth: its head is covered with jud fuch a gelatinous fubdance as the 
end of the Fibres in this Plant; and all its nourifhment pierces the pores in 
the fame manner. 
In Vegetable Nature every thing confirms this fydem ; and therefore, 
altho’ new, it will, I flatter myfelf, be favourably received. When Roots 
are fhortened in tranfplanting, they fird fend out a gelatinous covering of 
this kind : and when Cuttings are planted, the fird effort toward their 
growth, is a callous knob covering the wound. The Juices differ in thefe 
feveral indances, and therefore the fubdance of the head differs alfo in 
its firmnefs ; but the proceeding is the fame in all : Nature admits no 
VoL. I. H Juices 
