
6 

Philofophical Hiftory of Plants. 
5: §. And how far foever this kind of Knowledge may be attaina- 
ble,: its being’ fo far alfo worthy our attainment will be granted-.'’ For 
beholding the Many :and Elegant Varieties, wherewith a Field op 
Garden. is adorned; Who would not fay, That it were exceeding’ plea- 
fantto know what: we See: and not more delightful, to one who has 
Eyes, to difcernthat all is very fine; than to another who hath Reafon, 
to underitand-how. This furely were for a Man’to take a Frue In- 
ventory of hisGoods, and hisbeft way to puta price upon them. Yea 
it feems, that this were not only-to be Partaker of Divine Bounty 5 
but alfo; in fome degree, To be Copartuer in the Secrets of Divine Art. 
That which were very defireable, unlefs.we fhould think it imperti- 
nent for us to defign the Kxoming. of That; which God hath once 
thought fit to Do. 
6. §. Ifforthefe, andother Reafows; an inquiry into the Nature 
of Vegetation may be of good Import 5 It will be requifite to fec, ‘firft 
of all, What may offer it felf to be enquired of; or to under{tand, 
what our Scope is: That fodoing, we may take ouraim the better in 
making, and having made, in applying our Obfervations thereunto. 
Amongft other Inquiries therefore, fuch .as thefe defeive to be pro- 
pofed. Firft, by what means. it isthata Plant, or any Part of it,comes 
to Grow, a Seed to put fortha Root and Trunk; and this, all the other 
Parts, to the Seedagain 5. and all thelé being. formed, by continual Nu- 
trition ftill to be ixcreafed. How the Aliment by which a Plant is 
fed, ‘is duly prepared in its feveral Parts which: way: 4t is conveyed 
unto thems and in what manner it is affimilated to their refpective Na- 
tures in them all. “Whence this Growth and Augmentation, is not 
made ofone, but manydiffering Degrees, : unto both extremes of fall 
and greats whether the comparifon be made betwixt feveral Plavts, or 
the feveral Parts of one. How not only their Sizes, but alf their 
Shapes are fo exceeding various; as of Roots, in being Thick or Slen- 
der, Short or Long, Entire or Parted, Stringed or Ramified, and the 
like: of Truzks, fome being more Entire, others Branched, others 
Shrub‘d: ‘of Leaves, which are Long or Round, Even-ede'd or Ef 
callop'd, and many other ways different, yet always Flat: and fo for 
the other Parts. Then to inquire, What fhould be the reafonof their 
various Motions ; that the Root thould defcend 5 that its defcent fhould 
fometimes be perpendicular, fometimes more level : ‘That the Trank doth 
afcend 5 and that the. afcent théreof, as to the {pace of Tiwe wherein 
it is made, is of different weafures: and of divers other Motions, as 
they are obférvable in:the: Roots,’ Trunks, and other Parts’ of Plants. 
Whence again, thefe Motiozs have their Different, and Stated Terms 5 

that Plants have their fet and peculiar seafons for their Spring or 
Birth, for their Full: Growth, and: for their Teew#izg 3. and’ the like. 
Further, what may be the Caufés ‘as of ‘the Seafons oF their Growth 5 
fo of the Periods of their Lives’ fome being Avzual, others Biexvial, 
others Perennial ; {ome Perennial both as to their Roots and Trunks 3 
and fome as to their Roots only. Then, ‘as they pafs through thefe fe- 
veral Seafons of their Lives, in what manner their convenient feeding, 
houfing, cloathing or protetion otherwife, is contrived 3 wherein, in this 
kind’ and harmonious Oeconomy, one Part, may be officious to another, 
forthe prefervation of the health and life of the whole, And laftly, 
what care is taken, not only for themfélves, but for their Posterity 310i 
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