BOOK X.
Of Vegetables.
The Vegetable Kingdom, although an inferiour Branch of the Creation, exhibits to us such an ample Scene of the Creator’s Contrivance, Curiosity, and Art, that I much rather chuse to shew what might be said, than engage too far in Particulars. I might insist upon the great Variety there is, both of Trees and Plants provided for all Ages, and for every Use and Occasion of the World[a]; some for Building, for Tools and Utensils of every Kind; some hard, some soft; some tough and strong, some brittle; some long and tall, some short and low; some thick and large, some small and tender; some for Physick[], some for Food, some for Pleasure; yea, the most abject[c] Shrubs, and the very Bushes and Brambles themselves, the Husbandman can testify the Use of.
I might also survey here the curious Anatomy and Structure of their Bodies[d], and shew the admirable Provision made for the Conveyance of the lymphatick and essential Juices, for communicating the Air, as necessary to Vegetable, as Animal Life[e]: I might also speak of, even the very Covering they are provided with, because it is a curious Work in Reality, although less so in Appearance: And much more therefore might I survey the neat Variety and Texture of their Leaves[f], the admirable Finery, Gaiety, and Fragrancy of their Flowers[g]. I might also inquire into the wonderful Generation and Make of the Seed[h], and the great Usefulness of their Fruit: I might shew that the Rudiments and Lineaments of the Parent-Vegetable, though never so large and spacious, is locked up in the little Compass of their Fruit or Seed, though some of those Seeds are scarce visible to the naked Eye[]. And forasmuch as the Perpetuity and Safety of the Species depends upon the Safety of the Seed and Fruit in a great measure, I might therefore take notice of the peculiar Care the great God of Nature hath taken for the Conservation and Safety hereof: As particularly in such as dare to shew their Heads all the Year, how securely their Flower, Seed or Fruit is locked up all the Winter, together with their Leaves and Branches, in their Gems[k] and well fenced and covered there with neat and close Tunicks. And for such as dare not so to expose themselves, with what Safety are they preserved under the Coverture of the Earth, in their Root [l], Seed [m], or Fruit, till invited out by the kindly Warmth of the Spring! And when the whole Vegetable Race is thus called out, it is very pretty to observe the Methods of Nature in guarding those insensitive Creatures against Harms and Inconveniencies, by making some (for Instance) to lie down prostrate, and others, to close themselves up [n] upon the Touch of Animals, and the most to shut up their Flowers, their Down [o], or other their like Guard, upon the Close and Cool of the Evening, by Means of Rain, or other Matters that may be prejudicial to the tender Seed.
And now to these Considerations relating to the Seed, I might add the various Ways of Nature in dissipating and sowing it, some being for this end, winged with light Down, or Wings, to be conveyed about by the Winds; others being laid in elastick, springy Cases, that when they burst and crack, dart their Seed at convenient Distances, performing thereby the Part of a good Husbandman[p]; others by their agreeable Taste and Smell, and salutary Nature, inviting themselves to be swallow’d, and carry’d about by the Birds, and thereby also fertiliz’d by passing through their Bodies[q]; and others not thus taken Care of, do many of them by their Usefulness in human Life, invite the Husbandman and Gardiner carefully to sow and nurse them up.
To this so singular a Care about the Propagation and Conservation of the Species of Vegetables, I might add the nice Provision that is made for their Support and Aid, in standing and growing, that they may keep their Heads above Ground, and not be rotted and spoil’d in the Earth themselves, nor thereby annoy us; but on the contrary, minister to all their Ends, and our Uses; to afford us Houses, Utensils, Food[r], Physick, Cloathing, yea, Diversion too, by the Beauty of their Looks, by the Fragrancy of their Smell, by creating us pleasant Shades against the scorching Beams of Summer, and skreening us against the piercing Winds, and Cold of Winter[].
And it is very observable what admirable Provisions are made for this Purpose of their Support and Standing, both in such as stand by their own Strength, and such as need the Help of others. In such as stand by their own Strength, it is, by Means of the stronger and more ligneous Parts, (equivalent to the Bones in Animals,) being made not inflexible, as Bones; because they would then be apt to break; but of a yielding elastick Nature, to escape and dodge the Violence of the Winds; and by Means also of the Branches spreading handsomely and commodiously about, at an Angle of about 45 gr. by which Means they equally fill up, and at the same Time make an Æquilibration of the Top[t].
And as for such Vegetables as are weak, and not able to support themselves, ’tis a wonderful Faculty they have, so readily and naturally to make Use of the Help of their Neighbours, embracing and climbing up upon them[], and using them as Crutches to their feeble Bodies: Some by their odd convolving Faculty, by twisting themselves like a Screw about others; some advancing themselves, by catching and holding with their curious Claspers and Tendrels, equivalent to the Hands; some by striking in their rooty Feet; and others by the Emission of a natural Glue, closely and firmly adhering to something or other that administers sufficient Support unto them. All which various Methods being so nicely accommodated to the Indigencies of those helpless Vegetables, and not to be met with in any besides, is a manifest Indication of their being the Contrivance and Work of the Creator, and that his infinite Wisdom and Care condescends, even to the Service, and well-being of the meanest, most weak, and helpless insensitive Parts of the Creation.
In the last Place, to the Uses already hinted at, I might add a large Catalogue of such among Vegetables, as are of peculiar Use and Service to the World, and seem to be design’d as ’twere on Purpose, by the most merciful Creator, for the Good of Man, or other Creatures[w]. Among Grain, I might name the great Fertility[x] of such as serves for Bread, the easy Culture and Propagation thereof, and the Agreement of every Soil and Climate to it. Among Trees, and Plants, I might instance in some that seem to be design’d, as ’twere on Purpose, for almost every Life[y], and Convenience; some to heal the most stubborn and dangerous Distempers[z], to alleviate and ease the Pains[aa] of our poor infirm Bodies, all the World over: And some designed for the peculiar Service and Good of particular Places, either to cure such Distempers as are peculiar to them, by growing more plentifully there than elsewhere[bb]; or else to obviate some Inconvenience there, or to supply some constant Necessity, or Occasion, not possible, or at least not easy, to be supplied any other Way[cc]. ’Tis, for Instance, an admirable Provision made for some Countries subject to Drought, that when the Waters every where fail, there are Vegetables which contain not only Moisture enough to supply their own Vegetation and Wants, but afford Drink also both to Man and other Creatures, in their great Extremities[dd]; and a great deal more might be instanced in of a like Nature, and Things that bear such plain Impresses of the Divine Wisdom and Care, that they manifest the Super-intendence of the infinite Creator.
Thus I have given a Sketch of another Branch of the Creation, which (although one of the meanest, yet) if it was accurately viewed, would abundantly manifest it self to be the Work of God. But because I have been so long upon the other Parts, although less than they deserve, I must therefore content my self with those general Hints I have given; which may however serve as Specimens of what might have been more largely said about this inferiour Part of the animated Creation.
As to the Inanimate Part, such as Stones, Minerals, Earths, and such-like, that which I have already said in the Beginning shall suffice.
