100 
V E G E 1' A B L E STRUCTURE. 
out end. This is plainly the manner of Vegetable Produdlion and Increafe : 
there is no Generation, but fimply a continued Growth. 
As foon as this little fyflem of vafcular Flefli is formed, the intent of 
Nature in the parent Plant is anfwered in that part. The Juices from 
the fpungy fubftance of the Anthera are derived from the Veffels of the 
Ne(ffarla; and are of the nature of wax : they furround this little fyftem ; 
they defend it from injuries ; and the Anthera then drys, and burds open ; 
the little globules of Farina drop off from the inner Coat of it, their fmall 
necks having dried away : and thus the globule falls off upon the Stigma 
of the Flower. That part is always wet ; the thin fkin of the globule 
burds, and the Plantule, or piece of vafcular Flefli, falls out, encompafled 
with this waxy matter, which, not mixing with the water, appears like 
folid atoms. 
Surrounded by this indiflbluble matter, the ring of Flefli makes its 
way into the Seed-Veffel ; where there is always an open way for it into a 
Seed : the fame opening at which the young Plant afterwards burds forth ; 
and which is always vifible. The Seed, which is formed of the Pith of 
the Plant, furrounded with its Coats, was originally an exudation of this 
very Flefliy Subdance, its Juices therefore are happily fuited for the nourifli- 
ment of this minute particle of the Flefli j and it is no fooner lodged in 
the Seed, than it begins a peculiar kind of growth. There is moidure; 
and there is warmth enough in the air. The Juices in the Veflels of this 
Ring have never yet congealed : they move ; and it mud be circularly, for 
their valves admit of no return. Their tender coats receive, thro’ the fmall 
apertures of their yet fpungy fubdance, abundance of this appropriat- 
ed fluid, they fwell till the ring almod clofes, being preflbd together : 
and the fame open texture of their Coats gives way to extravafatioii. A 
few loofe threads of Pith arc fliot inward, and Conic Cluders foon ap- 
pear. 
The origin of thefe is in a horizontal diredtion ; but they foon afeend j 
the Juices get coats as they rife, by the mere hardening of the fuperficial 
part, and they return upon themfelves, becaufe they are too weak to pierce 
the Flefli where it makes the arch of the ring. Veflbls are added to Vef- 
fcls, by the growth of the Flefli ; and thus what was a ring becomes a 
fliell, and is the fliell or coat of Flefli of the fucceeding Root, which 
(hoots next its two Seed-Leaves. 
Alt ho’ the Conic Cluders do not, in their own Veflbls, pierce the 
Flefh, there rife from them thofe tender hollow threads of communication 
which we have feen in the preceding Figures j and from the extremities 
of 
