VEGETABLE STRUCTURE. 
73 
of it. The broken Shell fades down to the part k, where it began to rife 
loofe from the Blea ; and the inner Rind pufhing upward from that part, 
not only gets a new outer Bark for itfelf, but follows the courfe of the 
Blea upward in the afcending Stalk. 
We have feen that there was originally alfo a fliell of the outer Rind 
over the Bud at the Crown of the Root : this and the fliell of the inner 
Rind being both broken, there remains only the third fhell or Blea over 
the young Flower, which is formed of the Flefh of the Root. As it 
rifes higher this third fliell afcends with it : where it ceafes we fliall pre- 
fently fee ; but now', afcending entire, the power of grow’th being drong 
in the inner Rind of the Root, this coats it over ; and having, from its ex- 
travafated Juices renewed its own coat, or formed what has been called the 
fecondary outer Bark of the Hellebore, the Bud rifes fo far perfedl. 
At fome height above the ground the vigorous Flower breaks thro’ the 
Shell d alfo, which being thus fplit, fpreads oft fideways, and couflitutes 
the internal fubftance of thofe two Films, / in, which in this young Rate 
cover the Flower. The outer and the inner Rind having rifen with the 
Blea, fpread themfelves alfo over thefe Films, and cover them entirely. In 
the uppermofl of thefe, m, the new outer Bark entirely terminates j but 
the inner Rind, n n, flill purfues its courfe up the Stalk, even to its fum- 
mit, where fpreading into Breadth it forms the two under or outer Petals 
of the Flower, o o, and there terminates entirely. 
This courfe of the two Rinds is peculiar to the Hellebore, and fome 
few other Plants of the like kind : for in the generality of Herbs the outer 
and the inner Barks rife together with the Blea, in a plain continued and 
uninterrupted courfe, from the Root into the Stalk. As the young Bud 
of this Plant muft pierce the earth in the fevereft Frofts, Nature has by 
this peculiarity of fti udlure in the Crown covering it, provided for its defence. 
CHAP. XVII. 
Of the Construction of the Inner Rind. 
T he outer Bark having been removed from feveral pieces of the Hel- 
lebore, all thefe are now ready for the taking off the inner, which 
we are about to examine ; and if they have been left in the water till now, 
they will be in a condition to part with it the more eafily. It is nearly in- 
VoL. I. , L different 
