i8o VEGETABLE STRUCTURE. 
This conftrudtion of the common Pineapple will be feen diftin<5lly 
in the fedion Fig. 2 ; and this being underftood, the Proliferation of the 
fingular Plant here defcribed, which to an untaught mind would feem fo 
wonderful, may be mofl clearly explained. 
Wherever the Flefh-Vefiels of this Plant form, by their termination, 
a FleHiy Lump, as that at /, there is the original of a new Plant : the ex- 
travafated Juices of thofe Vefiels form a Blea, and the two Rinds are given 
this by the air, as in all other cafes. 
In the natural and common Hate of the Pineapple, the whole Body 
of Flelh-Vclfels runs up to the Summit of the Fruit; and only a few ve.y 
minute Branches from them are fent off fide ways toward the Tubercles, 
for forming the Filaments of tlie Flower. But if luxuriant nourifiiment, 
cr any other fivouring Accident, caufe the Flelh-Vefifels to be fo firong in 
Vigour that tnef. lide Branches, naturally minute, become enlarged, and 
are like thofe of t’r.e middle Column, then they will terminate at the Sur- 
face, not in their own peculiar Manner, as Filaments, but in the fame 
way as thofe of the middle Column : that is, there will be formed at the 
extremity of each Clufier, fuch a flefiiy mafs as that at the Letter /, in 
Fig. 2 ; and from this Leaves- will grow. It will terminate the Flefh-Vef- 
fels of the old Plant in their natural way: that is, it will give the origi- 
nation of a new one; which will obtain its Crown of Leaves while it re- 
mains upon the parent Stock; and when removed from it, will be ready 
to grow. The "I'erminations of thefe Clufiers of enlarged Branches from 
the Column of Flefli V'‘cfiels, mufi: be at the Tubercles of the Fruit; be- 
caufe thofe Branches are direded only thither ; confequently, it is within 
a Tubercle only each of thefe flefhy terminations mull be formed. 
We thus fee from Reafon, the necefiity of what appeared fo firange 
in this great Fruit : for if any caufe could enlarge thofe Branches of the 
Flefli-Vcfiels which go to the Tubercles, in the natural Hate of the I'lant, 
they mull, inflead of Filaments in a Fower, form new originations of 
Plants in thofe Tubercles : thefe muft have their firfl growth on the Plant; 
that firfl growth is a Crown of Leaves, and confequently, each Tu- 
bercle to which fuch a quantity of enlarged Branches w'cnt, mufl, inflead 
of containing an inconfiderable Flower, burfl into a full Crown. 
The fedlion of the Proliferous Fruit at Plate XIV. Fig. i, which is ex- 
actly done from Nature, is a plain illuflration of this fyflem : and very 
happily a part of the Tubercles of this curious Specimen, having retained 
their original and natural condition, w'e fee this alteration mofl diflindlly. 
In 
