1 98 The Leaf— Its Functions, etc. [May, 



HOW, BY GRAFTING, THE TREE PARTAKES OP THE CHARACTER OP 

 THE GRAFT, AND NOT OF THE PARENT STEM, 



In the brief view of the functions of the leaf above given, we have 

 stated, that it is one office of the leaf to elaborate the sap and assim- 

 ilate it to growth of fruit and tree. So the leaf then is the active 

 chemist, it imparts such ingredients as effects the result which we 

 find, furnishing us the sweet apple or the sour, the Bellefleur or- 

 Crab — true to its own modus of operations. So uniform is this re- 

 sult that we look with confidence for invariably the fruit we ingraft. 

 Thus the most delicious pear may be grown upon the white Thorn, 

 and the finest flavored peach upon the most acid wild Plum. 



GREEN MANURING. 



Here, too, we have the philosophy of restoring worn out and bar- 

 ren soils, so long as it will raise the valve (so to speak) — so long as 

 it has power to vegetate seed. 



The atmosphere is a vast Storehouse of oxygen and carbon, and 

 has quite as much to do in nourishing and maturing plants as the 

 soil. From it they derive unquestionably a large proportion more 

 carbon than the soil yields up. Hence, by returning to the soil the 

 repeated and successive productions grown upon it, we may greatly 

 increase its productive agency. Thus the plowing in of clover, rye, 

 or any other green crop, greatly increases the amount of vegetable 

 matter — carbon, in the soil. We are employing not the coral in- 

 sect to accumulate, and distribute fertilizers ; but more minute and 

 silent agencies no less effective to do this great work. And we need 

 not fear of exhausting the treasury — the atmosphere ; for if a draft 

 be made, the Bank is immediately supplied without the aid of steam 

 or telegraph. 



It is by a close examination into nature's laws that we are thus to 

 derive most pleasure and profit. The tasteful eye can not fail to be 

 delighted with the liveliness and freshness of summer tints, and the 

 gorgeousness of autumnal coloring, in the foliage of our forest trees. 

 But our pleasure will be infinitely enhanced when we proceed to 

 examine more closely, the disposition of the parts, and the laws 

 which govern. The casual observer, as he looks upon the beautiful 

 foliage, has no impression that its parts are arranged according to 



