editor's table. 



The Life of Francois Andre Michacx, commenced in the present number, will be con- 

 cluded in December. This memoir is interesting to Americans, as it records the history of 

 a most useful man, and one who, by his late will, has become a benefactor to our country 

 in a pecuniary gift, intended to benefit it. The particulars of his life had long been a 

 mystery to most till Mr. Durand gave the particulars. 



It is to be regretted that so few remarks are made regarding the Charleston and New York 

 nurseries, which he established for the purjiose of raising trees to export to France. At 

 Charleston, the other day, we made particular inquiries respecting the one there, and one 

 old gentleman knew the site, and spoke of the name of Michaux as one familiar to him in 

 yoiith. The garden was called Jardin du lioi, and was sold in 1702. He was the first bota- 

 nist who visited the Western States (1793) ; with what untiring zeal and assiduity his 

 laborious researches were prosecuted, his journals now in Philadelphia are the evidences. 

 The story of the explorations of our early botanists is of great interest, and will become of 

 even greater, as time progresses. 



How Plants Grow. — On other pages will be found Dr. Gray's exposition of " How Plants 

 Grow," to which we particularly invite attention, as the result of verified science, and as 

 of great interest to all. To employ a simple illustration of this knowledge : a few years 

 since, men were puzzled to know how it was that grafts do not produce the same fruit as the 

 stock — why, for instance, the root of one pear-tree may supply juices of twenty or more 

 kinds. The discoveries of modern vegetable physiology disclose the successive growths of 

 cells, each upon its predecessor, and each successor taking the exact character, and elabo- 

 rating with the aid of its leaves, each its own peculiar juices. The improvements in the 

 microscope have aided these researches, and we now have access to one of the great secrets 

 of nature which oiir ancestors knew nothing about. Dr. Gray's illustrations have reminded 

 us of the following lines : — 



" Instinct with life, the buried seed now shoots 

 On earth's cold bosom its descending roots; 

 With what elastic arms its rising stem 

 Parts the twin lobes, expands the throbbing gem. 

 Soon in bright veins the silvery sap ascends, 

 And refluent blood in milky eddies bends ; 

 Till spread in air, the leaves respiring play. 

 And drink the golden quintessence of the day." 



Vitality of Seeds. — Long since, the British Association appointed an important committee 

 on this subject. Dr. Daubeny read their report at the last meeting, held in Dublin, in 

 September. They state that after planting year after year all the seeds they were able to 

 collect, they had now left but four species of plants whose seeds continued to grow. These 

 were seeds belonging to the species Ulex, Dolichos, Malva, and Ipomea. The results are 

 curious and interesting. We now give them for the information of our readers, and for 

 reference. Tlie register of every experiment was exhibited with the details kept by Mr 



