144 
FURTHER OBSERVATIONS 
When a Vine bleeds rapidly, the moft effedlual expedient I 
have hitherto been able to devife to flop its progrefs is, Firft, 
to peel off, or diveff that part of the branch adjoining the 
wound, of all the outhde bark ; then with a fpunge to dry up 
the moifture, and immediately to wrap round the wounded 
part a piece of an ox’s bladder, fpread over with tar, or pitch, 
made 
“ particles, a number of different fluids are prepared in the fame plant. Matter 
“ is the fame in all ; but the modification of it makes tilings fweet or four, 
“ acrid or mild. 
“ The univerfal juice of a plant is a limpid fubacid liquor, which flows plenti- 
“ fully from a wound made in a tree when the fap is rifing. The Birch and 
“ the Vine yield it in great abundance. This liquor, as it moves through 
“ the innumerable fmall veffels, becomes more and more concodled, and is 
“ the general mafs from which all the juices are derived. It may be called 
“ the blood of the plant. By a certain modification it produces high- flavoured 
“ oils, gums, honey, wax, turpentine, and even the conffituent parts of 
“ the plant itfelf. How this tranfmutation is performed, remains, and 
“ perhaps ever will remain, unknown. 
I hope it will not be objected to me, that in this effay I have been too 
“ minute. In the hifiory of nature we cannot be too particular. Every 
“ part of it demands our mpft ferious attention, and every part of it repays 
“ us for the labour we bellow. The wings of the butterfly are painted by 
“ the fame Almighty hand that made the fun. The meaneft vegetable, 
“ and the moft finilhed animal, are equally the care of providence. We 
“ conftantly view the wifdom of God in his works ; and yet, as the v/ife 
“ man obferves, “ hardly do we guefs aright at the things that are upon the 
earth, and with labour do we find the things that are before us.” 
Georgical EJfays^ hy A. Hunter^ M. D. page 79. 
