6 JBotan^ 



the surface are the tiny algae, known as " crimson 

 snow." 



The faces of great rocks bear fihns of lichens, 

 which, when observed under the microscope, appear 

 as groves and forests, wherein play minute animals, 

 invisible to unaided eyes. The long-dead logs and 

 rails in fences are clothed with fairy gardens, knobs 

 of gold, cups of scarlet, frost-work of gray, white, 

 black, green. 



Parasites and epiphytes hang high upon the 

 branches of the trees ; gray -green mistletoe, flaming 

 orchids ; while about the grasses and little shrubs 

 twines the dodder, also a parasite ; and from the 

 spreading roots of pines lift the wax-white beech- 

 drops. 



The waters of ponds are covered with what people 

 loosely call " green scum from stagnation,'" but which 

 is nothing more nor less than a floating bed of 

 strange plants. Water-lilies and other aquatic 

 growths spring from tlie mud-beds of jDonds, and 

 along the margins of rivers. The stones under water 

 afford root-hold for plants. 



Plant life invades the store-closet and pantry ; it 

 takes hold upon loaves of bread, the tops of jars 

 of preserves, pickles, and jellies — ^' mold " we 

 call it. If we examine it carefully, this " mold " 

 turns out to be a crowded collection of little plants, 



