Essays on the microscope; containing a practical description of the most improved microscope; a general history of insects, etc / [George Adams].

  • George Adams Jr.
Date:
1787
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Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Essays on the microscope; containing a practical description of the most improved microscope; a general history of insects, etc / [George Adams]. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    XIII The conftru&ion of timber, and the difpofition of it’s com- ponent parts, as feen by the microfcope, is the fubjefl of the next chapter; a fubjeft confefledly obfcure. With what degree of fuccefs this attempt has been profecuted, mult be left to the judgment of the reader. The befl treatife on this part of vegeta- tion is that of Mr. Duhamel du Monceaus “ fur la Phylique des Arbres.” If either my time, or fituation in life, would have per- mitted it, I Ihouid have followed his plan ; but being confined to bufinefs, and to London, I can only recommend it to thofe lovers of the works of the Almighty, who live in the country, to purfue this important branch of natural hiftory. There is no doubt but that new views of the operations in nature, and of the wifdom with which all tilings are contrived, would amply repay the labour of inveftigatiom Every part of the vegetable king- dom is rich in microfcopic beauties, from the ftatelieft tree of the foreft, from the cedar of Lebanon, to. the lowlieft mofs, and the hyffop that fpringeth out of the wall, all confpiring to fay how much is hid from the natural fight of man, how little can be known till it receives afhflance, and is benefited by adventitious aid. From the wonderful organization of animals, and the curious texture of vegetables, we proceed to the mineral kingdom, and take a curfory view of the configuration of falts and faline fub- flances, exhibiting a few fpecimens of the beautiful order in which they arrange themfelves under the eye, after having been feparated by dilfolution: every fpecies working as it were upon a different plan, and producing cubes, pyramids, hexagons, or fome
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