E X P L A I N E D EY THE MICROSCOPE.
C H A P . 11.
OF THE PROLONGATION OF THE SHOOT.
/ - p H E Prolongation of > Shoot already formed, is plainly a matter of more fimple PLATE
J - circumftance than the produdion of a new one; and here one would fuppofe the
Pith, like the other parts, might be found continuous : but Nature, always confiftent
with herfelf, the God of Nature aOing every where in the fame amazing jnanner!
confirms the dottrine of the feparate formation of that in the Shoots, by its appearance,
lefs expedted'here.—Beit fuffered. Lord! to ufe thy name in honouring thy
works.
The Prolongation of the" Shoot in Trees is not a thing conftantly and regularly going
on 1 it has its feafons and its times , and takes its courfe more rapidly at fome, more
flowly at others: and there are fome when it nearly ceafes.
Let us follow its progrefs thro' a year; for the fame is every year repeated; and tho'
in various degrees of greater and of lefs, of fwifterand of flower, it is the fame in all.
In Oflober, if we felea a Shoot of the Afli-Maple, a quick-growing Tree, we fee its
end terminated by a cone, compofed of films. Here the growth of the paft fcafon has
flopped. This cone is what we call a Bud; and thro' thefe films, at the enfuing
Spring, the Prolongation of the Shoot is to be continued. Sacha piece is reprefented
at Plate XVII. Fig. i. Fig.
In this ftate it remains thro' Winter: the cold having clofed thofe pores thro' which
the Root ufed to draw in the greater part of its nourilhment. When the warmth of
Spring returns, the Roots fwell i thefe pores open; thofe vaft cifterns, the Sap Veflils of
the Wood, become filled, and every thing is nouriihed and begins to grow: the Shoot
extends itfelf thro' its films, and feems-a young Branch growing from or upon the old
one. If we let it take its deftined growth till May, 'twill then be in a condition to
examine, as to the nature of its growth, and tile condition of its parts. Such a piece
is Ihewn at Fig. 2. entire j and at Fig. 3. fplit regularly open, and the fifl-ure carried Fig. 2.
down into the Shoot of the former feafon. What we fee in it while entire is, that Fig. 3.
the top has been well covered with films i and there is an appearance as if the growth
had come to an entire flop there : but in the fplit Shoot we fee 'tis otherwifej there
is a fwelUng at what was the top, it a; but the brown Bark and the white Wood, a a
after thickening in their paufe, are continued ; they afcend juft: as the Clufter from the
I ' . Branch,
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