14 LIFE OF A TREE. 
The seed, in this condition, presents us with a 
problem science is not yet able satisfactorily to 
resolve. We cannot tell what its life consists in, 
yet we know it to be alive; we do not know 
why its powers should be, as it were, hushed to 
sleep, and yet still remain in it ready to come to 
life when outward circumstances are favourable. 
Neither can we say why, after a certain lapse of 
time, these powers disappear, and the seed be- 
comes really and truly dead. All this is full of 
mystery, even to the wisest of men; nor is it 
probable the difficulties will ever be cleared up by 
the efforts of human philosophy. ‘The truth is, 
in this and in many other cases, “‘ now, we know 
only in part ;” in another life we shall know ad. 
But now we are to suppose the sleep is about 
to be broken; Nature’s husbandmen, the birds, 
the beasts, and the far-circulating winds, or the 
human husbandman, have buried the seed in the 
soft bosom of the earth. The evening dew and 
morning shower come down, and give to its bed 
the proper supply of moisture; the warm sun- 
beam gently heats the earth; and the air creeps 
in at the chinks, and gives the proper stimulus to 
the awakening plant. Thus the three essential 
