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Show ee eAn Idea of a Philofopbical Historyof Plants. laid together, we may probably conjecture the Canfes thereof; and the Natures ofthe Plants in which theyare feen: cil. as fuch a Degree of Heat maybeneceflaryfor the Fermentation, or the better Di- {tribution of the sap of fach a Plaxt; or for the Impregnationof the der, to be mixed therewith 3 or thedue Difpofing of the Soil, to render the moft convenient Aliment thereunto. So the Principles of fuch Plants, which flowerall the Year, maybe more equally propor- tton'd. Thofe which flower before the Leaves put forth, as the Crocus Vernus, andthofe which flower in Spring, maybe accounted Rank, and fall of Volatile salt. But Autumn Plants efpecially, to abound with a Fixed: andthe like. i 15. §. The proper Places alfo of Plants, or fach wherein they have, from their Seeds, or other wayof Propagation, a Spontaneous ‘ th, fhould be confidered. Andthat as to the Climates whether one Colder, Temperate, or more Hot. The Region ; Continent, Iland. The Seat; Sea, or Land, Watry, Boggy, or Dry 5 Hills, ins, or Vallies; Open, in Woods, or under Hedgess Againft Walls, in them, or on their Tops: and the like. And perhaps the ome Plants, as of Mojfes, (which, through their fmallnef, ike Moths inthe Sun) may fly or fwim for fome time, in | they begin to fhoot, and fo become heavy enough, athe Ground. From whence, in like manner, as rticular WN. may be dire¢ted unto. jeCture the nature offuchan Aer, Soil, or ha Plant, to which theyare congenial. wife, thofe many Varieties obfervable inthe Mosiof their Parts, both Kinds and Degrees; Afcending, tals Reéfilinear, and Spiral Motions, fhould be hey agree, and wherein any of thefe Motions s tothofe of Avimals. And in a word, any other ties of Plants, Andthen, to Compare themall togeeflary. For Thoughts cannot work upon no- Hands. He that willbuild an Houfe, muft pro- And on the contrary, the Materials will never be- unlefs, by certain Rules, we joyn them all together, ply, the Knowledge of many things, but a multifariCopulation of themin the Mind, that becomes prolifick of further owledge. And thus muchforthe firft General Asean, ~ THE NEXTwhichI propofe, and that a moft necefary One, is Anatomy. For when upon the DifleGion ofVegetables,we fee fo great a difference inthem, that not only their Outward Fi- sures, but alfo their Inward Strudure, is fo Elegant 5 and in all, fo Various; it muft needs lead us thus to Think, That thefe Inward Varieties, were either to no Exd 3 or if they were, we muft affign to what. To imagine thefirft, were exceeding vain; as if Nature, the Handmaid of Divine Wifdom, thould with Her fine Needle and Lhred, {titch up fo manyfeveral Pieces, of fo difficult, and yet fo groundlefs a Work. But iffor fome Exd, then either only to be looked upon, or fome other befides. If for this only, then this muft be fuch as in refpe& whereof, Her Workis at no time, nor in any degree the contrary whereunto, is moft manifeft. For althoughfruftrate Men do every where,with frequent pleafure,bchold the Outward Elegancies of Plants 5 Plants 5 yet the Inward Ones, which, generally, are as Preci and Various as the Outward ; we fee, how ufual it is, forthe behol ding of Thefe, to be omitted by them. And befides, when we have obferv ed Nature's Work, as well as we can 3 it may be no impediment to our beft Endeavours, to believe, That fome Parts ofit, will fill remain behind, Uxjeer. So that if to be See, were the only End ofit, itmutt needs be whollyfruftrate, as to the greate r numbe r of Men; and, in {ome part, as to all. Wherefore, we mutt fuppofe fome other Exds of the faid Varieties, which fhould have their Effed, and fo Th > not be in vain, whether Men beheld them or not; which, », therefore, fuch as have refpe & to Vegetation: That the Corn mig fm 2 “ oO it grow, Jo3 andthe Flower, fo, whether or no Men had a mind,leifar e, or ability, to underftand fom. 18, g. Ifthen the Anatomy of Vegetables be fo wfefal a Mean, we ought not to ftreighten it ; but to forcethis as well as thereft, to its utmoft Extent. And therefore, firft of all, To go through all the Parts, with equal care ; examining the Root, Trunk, Branch Leaf, Flower, Fruit, and Seed. Then to Repeat or Retrograde the Dit fection, from Part to Part : in that, although the beftMethod of De- livery, for clear Difcourfe, canbe but one, according to that of Ne ture, from the seed forward, to the Seed: yet can it not but be ufeful, for That of Difleétion, to proceed to andfio; fomewhat orother being more Vifible in each feveral Payt , from maybe taken, for the ufhering in the obfervationwhence ftill an Hint ofit in the others, Toexamine, again, not onlyall the Parts,but Kinds ofVegetables, and comparatively, to obferve divers of the fime fixe, fhape, motion, age, S2p, quality, power, or any other wayth e fame, which may alfo agree, in {ome one or more particulars, asto their Ivteriour Struéure : and to make this comparifon, throughout all their Parts and Properties. To obferve them likewife, in feveral Seafon s of the Year, and in feveral Ages of the Plants, and of their Parts 3 in both which, divers of them maybe noted to change , not only their Dimenf ions, alfo; asVefels, do into Ligaments ; and Cartila but their Natures ges, into Bones, fometimes, in Avimals. And to doall this by feveral Ways ofSection, Oblique, Perpendicular, and Tranfv erfe; all three being requifite, if notto Obferve, yet the better to Comprehend, fome Things. And it_will be convenient fometimes to Break, Tear, or otherwife Divide, without a Seéfion, Together with the Knife it will be neceflary to joynthe Microféope ; and to exami ne all the Parts, and every Way, in the ufeof That. As alfo, that both Imm diate, and Microfeopica l InfpeCions, be Compared : fince it is certain, That fomethings, may be demonttrated by Reafon and the Eye conjuné, without a Glafs, which cannot be difcovered by it 3 orelfethe difcoveryis fo dark, as which, alone, maynot be fafely depended on. 19. §. By thefe feveral Ways ofInfp ection, it will be requifite, To obfervetheir Compounding Parts as Simply conftdered,and as variou{ly Proportioned, and Difpofed. As Simply confidered, to note their Num ber 3 what, and whether the fame, in all : their Kinds, wherein dif. ferent in the fame, ordivers Vegetab their Original, in part, or in whole: Strad@ure, as to their Conte xture and their Cavities; Their Contescture, within themfelve fevera lly, and as joyned1 together: their Cavities, as to their Size Shape, and Number ; in which a great va- ricty |