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46 T H E C O N S T R U C T I O N OF TIMBER
P L A T E It has been obferved, in treating of the Corona, that the ring or circle of that part
_ -wherein the ciufters of veiTels are enclofed is of the nature o f the Bark: this Tree
/ ¿ive a plain proof of it at j.
Ï I . O F THE WARPED DISPOSITION OF T"HE BLEA
IN THE NERIUM OLEANDER.
P L A T E
X X L
P L A T E
X X I I .
T h e Blea of Trees admits of variations f rom that plain and ordinary ftate wherein w6
have reprefented it before, both as to its difpofition and conftrudtion : in forhe Trees one
o f thefü differences takes place; in the other both. The form of the Shoots in the
Oleander is not perfedl y round, a ; and to this the Blea, as wel l as the other conilituent
parts, conforms itfelf. (See Plate XXI . ) In iliape it is not á circle, as in the Tul i p Tree,
but a fwolii ellipfis, imaller at the ends, and rifing on each part toward an angle in the
middle; and all this with great regularity, ¿ b. Its texture is coarfe, and its colour is
a pale brown, c. The parts o f which it is compofed are the fame as in áll other Trees ;
f o r one con ft ru ¿ l ion goes through all: but they are in this larger in their cavities, as well
as thicker in their fides, than in others. The warped ftate of the line this Blea forms
round the Wood, and the regular greatnefs o f its parts, moft claim our attention : but
the objefl being before us, it were blindnefs not to remark alio, that the Wo o d is delicately
vafcular, d-, that the line which is to mark the growth of another feafon is
t h i c k e r than uftial, e-, that the circle of the Corona is palpably of the fame colour and
fubftance of the Bark, f , and its ciufters thrown together more than ufual on the inner
fide, g; that the Pith is remarkably large, h j and that the Vafa exteriora, i, and
interiora, íhew themfelves with a diftindknefs very pleafing. There are two rings
o f the interiora very large and fair, and a perfeft line of the exteriora, at the very
verge of the Rind. What juice thefe laft contain it has not been in my power to
determine j the former have a mi lky acrid matter in great abundance.
I I I . O F THE UNDUL A T E D Cot jRsE OF THE BLEA
I N THE N E R I U M ZEYLANICUM.
Purftiing the conftruiflion o f the Oleander in another fpecies. We fee b y what gradations
Nature brings about her changes. The Blea in the Nerium Oleander was warped; here it
is undulated : there It ran out into four obtuf e angles; here it forms a mul t i tude; acontinued
feries o f them; in this, as in the former inftance, conforming itfelf to theihape of the
young Shoot ; which in the Ceylon Oleander is neither perfeftl y round nor elliptic, but all
the way raifed in an uneven line, or in a k ind of ridges and furrows. Iniheftrudtureof this
Blea we find a more confiderable difference : it is a broad line of a pal e whi t i i h fubftance,
formed of velTels wi t h coats fo remarkably thick, that Natur e furnifties no inftance equal
to i t ; (fee Plate XXI I . a a.) and the fpungy matter which fills their interitices is in like
manner preiTed clofe and compaft. The colours alfo, in a fref t i -cut piece, afford a very
good opportunity of marking all the conftituent parts in this Shrub to a nicety; andlhope
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