174 
VEGETABLE STRUCTURE. 
flioot up of themfelves thofe parts in which Evaporation and Abforptlon- 
are to be .performed ; and thence to grow. 
There is fomcihing in this artitle more than has yet been obferved : it 
is not alone for a few months in the natural v/ay of growth, that a Root 
will thus remain alive in the ground without any Shoot above the furface. 
What Nature in her proper courfe ordains in thefi inftances, accident, or 
art, may effect in a much more furprizing manner. Roots will remain 
alive, and in full vigour, feveral years, from various accidents, yet without 
fending up any Shoot ; and will afterwards afford Plants not only as per- 
fed;, but much itronger and finer than they would have done in the com- 
mon courfe of things. This dormant fiate of Roots demands, and de- 
ferves the attention of all who purfue thefe ftudies. Tlie fadt is certain. 
There is now in the colledtion of that great Patron and Ornament of 
the Botanic Science, the Duke of Argyle, a Root of the Canary 
Campanula, which is as full of health and vegetative life as a Root can 
be, and yet has made no Shoot for a whole year; yet there is no caufe to 
doubt that it will hereafter flioot a perfedt Stalk. This is not limitted to 
the Evotick Plants. I have known, by a peculiar accident, a Root of 
PoL\ PODY, on the Ifump of an old beech, live without any fliooting up a 
Leaf five years, and afterwards, from a change in the condition of the 
place, grow with an uncommon vigour, with large indented, and almofl: 
laciniated Leaves. Much more might be faid on this head, but the fubjedl 
is yet new, and I would excite, and not anticipate the rcfbarches of others, 
on a point which promifes to be replete with wonder. 
C II A P. XXXVIII. 
Of Extraordinary Courses of the Juices of Plants. 
A T U R E is never traced more happily than in her irregular produc- 
tions ; but it requires to know her ordinary courfe firft : the manner 
of her deviations prove the truth of thofe original laws we have difeovered, 
and give a new fpecies of evidence, as convincing as it is flrange. 
The clofe of the lafi: Chapter gave an inflance of Nature doing lefs 
than (he is wont in the fame inlfances ; and in the prefent we (liall view 
her method when (Ire effects much more. The defedl is a fubjedl: not yet 
ripe for explanation ; but it is not difficult to fee that it will probably en- 
lighten and confirm the prefent fyftem: the excefs is frequent, and has 
been 
