154 
VEGETABLE STRUCTURE. 
cum, fupported by a finglc fyftem of Circulation in the Root, with a fmall 
help from the Conic Cluhers. 
The general courfe of Nature in the nouriflinient of Plants, is what 
we have feen already in the Colchicum. The outer Bark receives from 
the earth, evaporates, and again abforhs from the air, a great deal of waterv 
matter; of this a fiHrdl portion is lecretcd, and delivered to the VTflels of 
the inner Rind ; they receive alfo their portion of watery noariilTment ; 
and make their Iccretions, which, with thofe of the outer Bark, they de- 
liver to the Blca, In the Blea a new fecretion is made, and a third con- 
codlion is given to the firil of the other Juices; and this elaborated fluid 
being now fit for the nonril’hment of the Plant, is conveyed to the Flefh. 
There it circulates ; and thence begins the growth of all the parts. The 
Vafcular Series is formed on the furface, and the Conic Cluflers ; and the 
Pith, within ; and proceffes of the Fleflt accompanied by thefe its ivatural 
productions, rile to form the Stalk, and terminate in Flowers. 
All this depends upon the force of a Circulation in the Flefhy Subftance 
of the Shvll or Cott, g. Fig, 2, Plate XI. The moiflure that is received 
by the Root, and by tlie Leaves, when its nutritive particles are fecreted, 
is, in part, evaponted during the heat of the day ; and more is received, 
replete with the fame kind of particles, to fupply its place. This is done 
continually ; and, therefore, there is a continual addition to the Juices of 
the Flefli. This redundance forces up thofe Procefles which form the 
other parts of the Plant ; and all the time a fecondary Circulation is carried 
on by the VefLls of the Conic Ciufters. Thefe make the Ribs of the 
Leaves, and the Receptacle of the Flower ; therefore they all reach every 
whoic the extremities of the Plant: they all return from thence to the bale 
of the part whereto they belong ; and there they have a delicate communi- 
cation with the Flefli of the Root. 
Thus, in the Plant now under examination, the Angle circulatory fy- 
flem is in the Flelh of the Root ; but the Radical Leaves and Fibres of 
the Root aflifting, the full nouriflied blefla of the Root fends up a procefs 
which forms the Stalk : this, when it is raifed as high as the force of that 
fingle circulatory fyflem can carry it, flops its growth, and the feveral parts 
then feparating, a Plower is formed, in which are produced the Rudiments 
of many new Plants. Every eflential part is nouriflied by the coat of 
Flefh in the Root; and into every part run fome of the Veffels of the 
Conic Cluflers, which take their origin from it. 
That the growth and lieight of the Plant depend upon the quantity 
and difpofition of the Flefh, will appear in the comparifon of the heights 
of feveral Plants with the quantity and place of the Flefh. Thus we fee, 
that 
