J20 
VEGETABLE STRUCTURE. 
of the Leaf they turn their mouths every where-, indead of their fides, to 
tlie furface, and confequently a perpendicular view of the furface of the 
Leaf, on either fide, fliews us innumerable openings, which the two Rinds 
but imperfectly hide. In the prefent view, thefe Rinds being removed, the 
mouths of the cells are more diftinCt, and the Vefiels are as vifible at their 
corners and divifion. 
Thus the body of the Leaf is a mafs of B!ea, wliofe Vefiels and 
Cells do not purfue their plain courfe from the bafe to the fummit of 
the Leaf, but open each way to the furface. See Fig. 55, It is obferv- 
able alfo, that the Vefiels of the Blca are larger here than in the red of 
the Plant. In this Blea, as in a bed, are lodged the Conic Clufiers, run- 
ning from the bafe of the Leaf toward the fummit, in a plain courfe, fur- 
rounded by their peculiar fpungy matter : this continues white but the 
Juices of the Vefiels themfelves are cither ricldy green or red. 
Two of thefe Conic clufters of Vefiels, we have fecn, make the body 
of each of the principal Ribs; they run pure up thefe, and feparate from 
the fpungy matter vvhicli lies about them. Tho’ they are large at the 
bafe, they diminifii toward the other extremity ; and being buried in this 
large quantity of Blea in the body of the Leaf, arc lofi to the view ; but 
wiien we have feparated the two coats, the Blca will not obfiruCt our fight 
of tlicm by the Microfeope. When we lay before it an entire Seed-Leaf, 
flripped of its coats, we fee thele Vefiels run nearly, but not abfolutely, 
to the extremity of the Leaf. In their courfe they fend off many fide 
Fibres, which are fo many portions of their own fubfiance ; each confid- 
ing of a number of Vefiels ; and when arrived at the extreme end of their 
courfe forward, they turn tb.eir points, and keep on in a new arched bend, 
formed by the figure of the outline of the Leaf, till they inofculatc one 
with another ; the middle with the fide Ribs, and thefe again with tliat. 
Tlie fide Fibres purfue a like courfe, and do not come to an abfolute ter- 
mination any where, but all inofculatc one with another; often in confi- 
derable large branches, fometimes by futh as are too fma 1 for the view 
even of the Microfeope. Fig. 55 reprefents the courfe of the Vefiels in 
the Blea ; 56 the Vefiels feparate. 
From this confiruftion of the Seed-Leaves of Plants, it is not difficult 
to learn their ufe. We fee their feveral Coats and Blea are fo many con- 
tinued fubftanccs, with the fame parts of the Root; and that the Fltffi, 
and clufiers of Vefiels, tho’ they be not continued from the parts of the 
fame nature in the Root, yet are derived from them, and communicate 
with them at the point *, where the young Scalk is to rife. This is the 
important 
