Those that shall think fit to examine, as well as to peruse these Observations, we advertise them, First, That they begin, and so proceed till they end again, with the Seed: For they will hardly be able to avoid Errour and Misapprehension, if either partial or preposterous in their Enquiries. Next, That they confine not their Enquiries to one time of the Year; but to make them in several Seasons, wherein the Parts of a Vegetable may be seen in their several Estates. And then, That they neglect not the comparative Anatomy; for as some things are better seen in one estate, so in one Vegetable, than another.
What, upon Observation already made, we have erected, as they are not Sticks and Straws; so neither do we assure all to be of the best Oak. How Dogmatical soever my Assertions may seem to be, yet do I not affect the unreasonable Tyranny of obtruding upon the Faith of any. He that speaketh Reason, may be rather satisfied, in being understood, than believed.
THE
CONTENTS
CHAP. 1.
Of the Seed as Vegetating.
The Method propounded. [1], [2]. The Garden-Bean dissected. [2]. The two Coats thereof. [2], [3]. The Foramen in the outer Coat, [3], [4]. What generally observable of the Covers of the Seed, [4]. The main Body of the Seed, [5], [6]. The Radicle distinguish’d. [6]. The Plume distinguish’d. [8]. Described. [9]. The Cuticle described. [10], [11]. The Parenchyma. [11], [12]. The Inner Body, how observed. [14], [16]. Describ’d. [15], [16], [17], [18].
The Coats how in common subservient to the Vegetation of the Seed. [20], [21]. The Foramen, of what use herein. [22]. The use of the Inner Coat, and of the Cuticle. [22]. Of the Parenchyma. [23]. Of the Seminal Root. [23], [24]. How the Radicle first becomes a Root. [24], [26]. How after the Root the Plume vegetates. [26]. How the Lobes. [27]. That they do, demonstrated. [29], [32]. How the Lobes thus turn into Dissimilar Leaves. [32]. What hence resolvable. [32], [33]. The use of the Dissimilar Leaves.
CHAP. 2.
Of the Root.
The Skin hereof, its Original. [37]. The Cortical Body, its Original. [37]. Description. [37], [38]. Pores. [38]. Proportions. [39]. The Lignous Body, its Original. [39]. Described by its Pores, [40]. Its Proportions. [42]. The Insertment, its original. [42]. Description. [43]. Pores. [43]. Number and size. [44]. A fuller description hereof, with that of the Osculations of the lignous Body. [44], [45]. The Pith, its original sometimes from the Seed. [46]. Sometimes from the Cortical Body. [47], [49]. Its Pores. [49]. Proportions. [49], [50]. Fibres of the lignous Body therein. [50]. The Pith of those Fibres. [51].
How the Root grows, and the use of the Skin, Cortical and lignous Body thereto. [51], [54]. How it groweth in length. [55]. By what means it descends. [56], [57]. How it grows in breadth. [58]. And the Pith how thus framed. [59]. The use of the Pith. [60], [61]. Of the Insertment. [61], [62]. The joint service of all the Parts. [63], [65].