A M ethod of filling the Sap V essels of Plants*
A great many (hoots o f the fcarlet and other oaks are to be
taken off in the fpring; they muft be cut into pieces of about two>
inches in length, and immediately from the cutting they mult
drop into feme warm rain wate r: in this they are to Hand
twenty-four hours, and then be boiled a little. When taken out,
they are to be tied on firings, and hung up in a place where the
air paffes freely, but the fun does not (hine. When they are
perfeftly dry, a large quantity of green wax, fuch as is ufed for
the feals o f law deeds, is to be gently melted in an earthen pipkin,
fet in water ; the water to be heated and kept boiling. As foon
as the wax runs, the ftieks are to be put in, and they- are frequently
to be ftirred about. They muft be kept in this (late-
about an hour, and then the pipkin is to be- taken out of the
water, and fet upon a naked fire, where it is to be kept with the
wax boiling for two or three hours -, frefh fupplies o f the fame-
wax being added from time to. time.
After this it is to be removed from the fire, and the Kicks immediately
taken out with a pair qf nippers; when they are cold,
the rough wax about them is to be broken off. Both ends of
each flick are to be cut off half an inch long, and thrown away,
and the middle pieces faved. Thefe are then to be cut in fmaller
lengths, fmoothed at the ends with a fine chiffel, and many of
them fplit in various thickneffes.
Thus are obtained preparations, not only o f great ufe, but o f
a wonderful beauty. Many trees this way afford handfome ob-
je&s as well as the o a k a n d in fome, where the fap veflels are
few,.
few, large, and diftinft, the fplit pieces referable ftriped fauns,
in a way fcarce to be credited. It is in fuch that the outer coats
of thefe veflels are moft happily of all to be examined.
T he M ethod of preparing Salts and Saline S ubstances
FOR THE VIEWING THEIR CONFIGURATIONS.
Diffolve the fubjea to be examined in no larger a quantity of
river or rain water than is fufficient to faturate i t ; if it is a body
eafily diffolvable, make ufe of cold water, otherwife make the
water warm or hot, or even boiling, according as you find it
neceffary. After it is perfectly diffolved, let it reft for fome hours,
till, if over-charged, the redundant faline particles are precipitated,
and fettle at the bottom, or fhoot into cryftals; by
which means you are moft likely to have a folution of the fame
ftrength at one time as at another; that is, a folution fully
charged with as much as it can hold up, and no more; and by
thefe precautions the configurations appear alike, how often
foever tried: whereas, if the water be lefs faturated, the proportions,
at different times, willhe.fubjea to more uncertainty;
and if it be examined before fuch feparation and precipitation o f
the redundant falls, little more will be feen than a confufed mafs
of cryftals.
The folution being thus prepared, take up a drop o f it with'a
goofe quill, cut in fafhion of a fcoop, and place it on a flat flip of
glafs, of about three quarters o f an inch in width, and between
three and four inches long, fpreading it- on the glafs with the
quill in either a round or oval figure, till it appears a quarter of
an inch or more in diameter, and fo (hallow as to rife very little
W 2 above