moft abject (3) Shrubs, and the very Bushes and Brambles themselves, the Husbandman can testify the Ufe of.

I might alfo furvey here the curious Anatomy and Structure of their Bodies (4), and fhew the admi

Are fome of the Species of Nature noxious? They are also useful· Doth a Nettle fing? It is to fecure fo good a Medicine from the Rapes of Children and Cattle. Doth the Bramble cumber a Garden? It if Bramble cumber a makes the better Hedge, where if it chanceth to prick the Owner, it if it chanceth to prick & Garden? H will tear the Thief. Grew Cofmolog. L. 3. c. z. § 47.

(3) That the most abje& Vegetables, &c. have their Ufe, and are beneficial to the World, may in fome measure appear from the Ule the Northern People put rotten Wood, &c. unto. Satis ingeniofam midum habent populi feptentrionales in nemoribus nocturno tempore pertranfeuntes, imo do diurno, quando in remotioribus Aquilonis partibus ante, & poft Solftitium byemale continua notes babentur. Quique his remediis indigent, Cortices quercinos inquirunt purres eafque collocant certo interftitio itineris inftituti, ut Corem fplendore, quo voluerint, perficient iter. Nec folum boc preftat Cortex, fed di Truncus putrefactus, ac fungus ipfe Agaricus appellasus, &c. Ol, Mag. Hift. L. 2. c. 16.

To this we may add Thiftles in making Glafs, whofe Afhes Dr. Merrer faith, are the beft, viz. the Athes of the Cominon-way Thistle, though an Thistles ferve to this Purpofe. Next to Thiftles are Hop frings, Lout after the Flowers are gathered. Plants that are Thorny and Prickly, feem to afford the best and moft Salt. Merrer's Obferv. on Anton. Ner. p. 265.

Quid majora fequar? Salices, humilefque Genifta,
Aur illæ pecori frondem, aut paftoribus umbram
Sufficiunt, Seremque, fatis, pabula melli.

Virg. Georg. L. 2. car. 434.

(4) Dr. Beal (who was very curious, and tried many Experi ments upon Vegetables) gives fome good Reasons to imagine, that there is a direct Communication between the Parts of the Tree and the Fruit, fo that the fame Fibres which conftitute the Root, Trunk, and Boughs, are extended into the very Fruit. And in old Horn beams, I have obferved fomething very like this; in many of which, there are divers great and small Ribs (aimoft like Ivy, only united to the Body) running from the Root up along the outfide of the Body, and terminating in one fingle, or a few Boughs: Which Bough or Boughs fpread a

admirable Provifion made for the Conveyance the lymphatick and effential Juyces, for communicating the Air, as neceffary to Vegetable, as Animal Life (5): I might alfo fpeak of, even the very Covering they are provided with, because it is a curious Work in Reality, although lefs fo in Appearance and much more therefore might I furvey the neat Variety and Texture of their Leaves (6), the admirable Finery, Gaiety, and Fragrancy of their

gain into Branches, Leaves and Fruit. See what Dr. Beal hath in Lowth. Abr. V. 2. p. 710.

But as to the particular Canals, and other Parts relating to the Anatomy of Vegetables, it is too long a Subject for this Place, and therefore I fhall refer to Seigneur Malpighi's and Dr. Grew's Labours in this kind.

(5) Tanta eft Refpirationis neceffitas, & ufus, ut Natura in fingulis viventium ordinibus varia, fed analoga, paraverit inftrumenta, que Pulmones vocamus [and fo he goes on with obferving the Apparatus made in the various Genera of Animals, and then faith] In Plantis vero, quæ infimum animalium attingunt ordinem, tantam Trachearum copiam & productionem extare par eft, ut his minima Vegetantium partes præter corticem irrigentur. Plante igitur (ut conjectari fas eft) cum fint viventia, vifceribus infixa terra, ab bac, feu potius ab aqua & aere, commixtis & percolatis a terra, Refpirationis fuæ materiam recipiunt, ipfarumque Trachea ab balitu terra, extremas radices fubingreffo, replentur. Malpig. Op. Anat. Plant. P. 15.

These Trachea or Air-Veffels, are vifible, and appear very pretty in the Leaf of Scabious, or the Vine, by pulling afunder fome of its principal Ribs, or great Fibres; between which, may be feen the Spiral Air-Veffels (like Threads of Cob web) a little uncoyled: A Figure whereof, Dr. Grew hath given us in his Anat. Plant. Tab. 51, 52.

As to the curious coyling, and other Things relating to the Structure of those Air-Veffels, I refer to Malpig. p. 14. and Dr. Grew, ib. L. 3. c. 3. §. 16. &c. and L. 4. c. 4. §. 19. of Mr. Ray, from them fuccinctly, Hift. Plant. L. I. c. 4.

a

(6) Concerning the Leaves, I fhall note only two or three Things. 1. As to the Fibres of the Leaf, they ftand not in the Stalk, in an even Line, but always in an Angular, or Circular Pofture, and their vascular Fibres or Threads, are 3, 5 or 7. The Reason of their Pofition thus, is for the more erect Growth

Dd 4

their Flowers (7). I might alfo inquire into the wonder

Growth and greater Strength of the Leaf, as alfo for the Security of its Sap. Of all which, fee Dr. Grew, L. I. c.

4. §. 8. c. and L. 4. Part 1. c. 3. afo Tab. 4. Fig. 2 to I. Another Obfervable in the Fibres of the Leaf, is their orderly Pofition, fo as to take in an eighth Part of a Circle, as in Mallows; in fome a tenth, but in moft a twelfth, as in Holy-Oak or a fixth, as in Sirynga. Id. ib. Tab. 46, 47.

2. The Art in Folding up the Leaves before their Eruption out of their Gems, &c. is incomparable, both for its Elegancy and Security, viz. in taking up (fo as their Forms will bear the leaft room; and in being fo conveniently couched, as to be capable of recei ing Protection from other Parts, or of giving it to one another, e. g. First, there is the Bow-lap, where the Leaves are all laid fomewhat convexly one over another, but not plaited but where the

Leaves are not fo thick fet, as to fland in the Bow Lap, there we bave the Plicature, or the Flat-lap; as in Rose tree, &c. And fo that curious Obferver goes on fhewing the various Foldings, to which he gives the Names of the Duplicature, Multiplicature, the Fore rowl, Back rowl, and Tre-rowl, or Treble-rowl Grew. ib. L. 1. c. 4. § 14. &c To thefe he adds fome others, L. 4. P. I. c. I. S. 9. Confult also Malpig. de Gemmis. p. 22. &c.

To thefe curious Foldings, we may add another noble Guard by the Interpofition of Films, &c. of which Dr. Grew faith, there are about fix Ways, viz. Leaves, Surfoyls, Interfoyls, Stalks, Hoods, and Mantlings. Grew. ib. and Tab. 41, 42. Malpig. ibid.

(7) In the Flower may be confidered the Empalement, as Dr. Grew, the Calyx, or Perianthium, as Mr. Ray and others, call it, defigned to be a Security, and Bands, to the other Parts of the Flower. Floris velut bafis do fulcimentum eft. Ray Hift. L. 1. c. 10. Flowers, whofe Petala are ftrong (as Tulips) have no Calynx. Carnations whofe Petala are long and flender, have an Empalement of one Piece: And others, fuch as the Knapweeds, have it confifting of feveral Pieces, and in divers Rounds, and all with a counterchangeable Refpect to each other, for the greater Strength and Security of themselves, and the Pétala, &c. they include.

The next is the Foliation, as Dr. Grew, the Petala, or Folia, as Mr. Ray, and others. In thefe, not only the admirable Beauty, and luxuriant Colours are obfervable, but also their curions Foldings in the Calyx, before their Expanfion. Of which Dr., Grew hath thefe Varieties, viz. The Close Couch, as in Rofes; the Concave Couch, as in Blataria flore albo: The Single-Plait,

as

wonderful Generation and Make of the Seed (8), and the great Usefulness of their Fruit, I might fhew that the Rudiments and Lineaments of the Parent-Vegetable, though never fo large and fpacious, is locked up in the little Compafs of their Fruit or Seed, though fome of thofe Seeds are fcarce visible to the naked Eye (9). And forafmuch as the Perpetuity and Safety of the Species depends

upon

as in Peafe-bloffoms; the Double-Plait, as in Blue-bottles, &c. the Couch and Plait together, as in Marigolds, &c. The Rowt, as in Ladies Bower: The Spire, as in Mallows: And lastly, the Plait and Spire together, as in Convolvulus Doronici folio. L. 1. C. 5. S. . and Tab. 54.

As to the Stamina with their Apices, and the Stylus, (called the Attire by Dr. Grew) they are admirable, whether we confider their Colours, or their Make, especially their Ufe, if it be as Dr. Grew, Mr. Ray, and others imagine, namely, as a Male Sperm, to impregnate and fructify the Seed. Which Opinion is corroborated by the ingenious Observations of Mr. Sam. Morland, in Philof. Trans. No. 287.

Reliqua ufus alimentique gratia genuit [Natura] ideoque fecula annofque tribuit iis. Flores vero odorefque in diem gignit: magna (ut palam eft) admonitione bominum, quae fpe&tatiffime floreant, ceJerrime marcefcere. Plin. N. H L. 21. C. I.

(8) As to the curious and gradual Procefs of Nature in the Formation of the Seed or Fruit of Vegetables, Cuts being neceffary, I fhall refer to Dr. Grew, p: 45, and 209, and Malpig. p. 57.

(9) Vetus eft Empedoc'is dogma, Plantarum femina Ova esse, ab iifdem decidua Ineft in eo [Ovo vel Semine] velut in cicatrice, non fola viventis carina, fed cum minimo trunco affurgentes partes, Gemma fcilicet, & infignis radicis Conus, &c. Malpig. ib. p. 81. vid. plura in tra&t. de Seminum veget. p. 14. &. paffim.

In Malpighi's Life, a Debate may be seen between him and Seign. Triumphetti, the Provoft of the Garden at Rome, whether the whole Plant be actually in the Seed? The Affirmative is maintained by Malpighi, with cogent Arguments; among which, this is one; Non præoccupata mente, oculis microscopio armatis, luftret quafo Phafeolorum feminalem plantulam nondum fatam, in qua folia ftabilia, becque ampla evidenter obfervabit ; in eadem pariter gemmam, nodos, feu implantationes varias foliorum caulis deprehender. Caulem infignem fibris ligneis, & utriculorum feriebus conftantem confpicue attinger. And whereas S. Triumpheri

had

had objected that vegatione, metamorphofi, inedia plantas in alias. degenerare, ut exemplo plurium [conftat] pracipue tritici in lolium,

lolii in triticum verfi. In answer to this, (which is one of the ftrongeft Arguments againft Milpighi's Affertion) Malpighi replies, nondum certum eft de integritate, & fucceffu experimeni, nam facienti mihi, & amicis, tritici metamorphofis non ceffit. Admiffa tamen metamorphofi, quoniam hac neglecta cultura, aut vitio foli, aut aeris contingit- ideo ex morbofo 5 monftruofo affe&u non licet inferre permanentem ftatum a Natura intentum. Obfervo plantas fylveftres cultura varias reddi, &c. I have more largely taken Notice of Malpighi's Anfwer, because he therein fhews his Opinion about the Tranfmutation of Vegetables. Vid. Malpig, Vit. p. 67.

So Mr. Leewenhoek, after his nice Obfervations of an OrangeKernel, which he made to germinate in his Pocket, &c. concludes, Thus we fee, how small a Particle, no bigger than a courfe Sand (as the Plant is reprefented) is increased, &c. a plain Demonftration, that the Plant, and all belonging to it, was actually in the Seed, in the young Plant, its Body, Root, &c. Philof. Tranf. No. 287. See alfo Raii Cat. Cant. in Acer maj. from Dr. Highmore. But in all the Seeds which I have viewed, except the Maple, the Plant appears the plaineft to the naked Eye, and also very elegant, in the Nux Vomica.

Natura non obfervat magnitudinis proportionem inter femina do plantas ab iifdem ortas, ita ut majus femen majorem femper producat plantam, minus minorem. Sunt enim in genere herbarum non pauca, quarum femina arborum nonnullarum feminibus non dico aqualia funt, fed multo majora. Sic. v. g. Semina Faba, &c. femina Ulmi, &c. multis vicibus magnitudine fuperant. Raii ubi fupra. L. I. c. 13.

Filicem reliquafque Capillares herbas Semine carere Veteres plerique prodidere; quis etiam fecuti funt e Recentioribus nonmulli, Dodonaus, &c.Alii e contra, Baubinus, &c. Filices & congeneres fpermatophoras effe contendunt: Partim quia Hiftoria Creationis, Genef. 11. 12. &c. Hanc fententiam veriffimam effe autopfia convincit. Fredericus Cafius, he faith, was the firft that difcovered thefe Seeds, with the Help of a Microfcope. And fince him, Mr. W. C. hath more critically obferved them. Among other Things obferved by that ingenious Gent. are thefe, Pyxidula feu capfulæ femina continentes in plerifque boc genus plantis perquam exili granulo arene vulgaris cinerea plus duplo minores funt; imo in nonnullis fpeciebus vix tertiam quartámse arenalæ partem magnitudine aquant, veficularum quarundam annulis aut fafciolis vermiformibus obuolutarum fpeciem exhibentes. Nonnullæ ex his veficulis 100 circiter femina continere deprebendebantur. adeo eximia parvitate ut nudo oculo prorfus effent invisibilia, nec nifi microfcopii interventu detegi poffent. Ofmunda regalis, que aliis omnibus Filicis fpeciebus moleantecellit

vascula