31 BOTANY FOR BEGINNERS. [_Ch. VI 



116. Plants are organized beings ; that is, they are compo- 

 sed of parts which bear a mutual relation to each other ; and 

 which are all necessary to form a perfect individual. 



117. Children, you too are organized beings; there is an inti- 

 mate connexion between every part of your bodies. From 

 your brain, a substance similar to it extends in every direction, 

 forming nerves. If you prick your finger, or hurt your toe, the 

 feeling which follows is communicated by nerves to your brain 

 and by your brain to your mind. 



118. If some organs of your body were lopped off, for instance, 

 your hands or feet, you would not be a perfect organized being ; 

 so if a plant were stripped of its leaves or deprived of its root, 

 it would be an imperfect specimen of its kind. 



119. But you might break a stone into many pieces, and each 

 one would be as perfect a specimen of its kind as the whole 

 stone was. This is because a stone is an inorganized Jbeing j 

 that is, it does not consist of parts which have a mutual con- 

 nexion and relation. 



120. Plants, then, are living, organized beings ; they are fur- 

 nished with pores, by which they imbibe or suck their nourish- 

 ment from surrounding bodies. 



^j 



121. The principal organs of the plant are the Root, Stem. 

 Leaves, and Flower. 



122. The Root fixes the plant in the earth, and absorbs from 

 it various substances necessary for its support. 



123. The Stem conducts juices from the root to the leaves 

 and branches ; the divisions of the stem are branches ; the di- 

 visions of these are boughs. 



124. Leaves are to vegetables what lungs are to animals ; by 

 :heir means, the plant imbibes from the surrounding atmos- 

 phere, moisture, and a substance called carbonic acid gas ; this 

 is composed of two parts, oxygen and carbon ; the latter is re- 

 tained by the plant, and becomes a part of its own substance, 

 while the oxygen, after being deprived of its carbon, is thrown 

 back into the air. 



llf>. Why are plants said to be organized beings? 



117. Are there other organized beings besides plants 1 



118. When is an organized being imperfect 1 



119. Are stones organized beings'? 



120. How do plants derive nourishment from surrounding bodies'? 



121. What are the principal organs of the plant 1 



122. What is the use of the root? 



123. What is the use of the stem? 



124. What is the use of the leaves^ 



