STUDY Xï. 319 



We remark, firft, that corn, which ferves for the 

 general fubfiftence of the Human Race, is not 

 produced by vegetables of a lofty ftature, but by 

 fimple graffes. The principal fupport of human 

 life is borne on herbage, and is expofed to the 

 mercy of every breath of wind. There is reafon to 

 believe, that had we ourfelves been intruded with 

 the fafety of our crops, we would not have failed to 

 place them on great trees; but in this, as well as 

 in every thing elfe, we are bound to admire Di- 

 vine Providence, and to miftruft our own wifdom. 

 Had our harvefts been the produce of the forefts, 

 in the event of thefe being deftroyed by war, or 

 fet on fire through our own imprudence, or rooted 

 up by the winds, or ravaged by inundations, whole 

 ages would have been requifite to re-produce 

 them in a country. Farther, the fruits of trees are 

 much more liable to drop off, than the feeds of 

 graiTes. The graffes, as has been already obferved, 

 carry their flowers in an ear, in many cafes fur- 

 mounted by little beards, which do not defend 

 their feeds from the birds, as Cicero fays, but which 

 ferve, as fo many little roofs, to fhelter them from 

 the water which falls from Heaven. The drops oi 

 the rain cannot drown them, as they do flowers 

 radiated, in difks, in rofes, and in umbels, the 

 forms of which, however are adapted to certain 

 places and to certain feafons ; but thofe of the 

 graffes are adapted to every expofure. 



When 



