66 LIFE OF A TREE. 
this rule as to the position of the leaf-surfaces. 
There trees are to be found which scarcely cast 
a shadow, their leaves being twisted as it were 
half round, and turning one edge to the sky, and 
the other to the earth. Such trees form the 
most singular features of the landscape. 
Let us now ask the reader’s attention to an- 
other interesting topic. Down in a deep cellar, 
whither no ray of light has ever entered except 
that of the dimly burning candle, lies a neglected 
heap of onions. The moist earth on which they are 
placed quickens several of them into life, and they 
begin to put forth their sprouts. Doomed to an 
unbroken darkness, and wrapped round by foster- 
ing damps which rise from the floor, the shoots still 
grow, and become lengthened considerably, strag- 
gling about the place as if groping for the light. 
The pleasant days of Spring pass quickly on, bring- 
ing life and health to all the vegetable creation 
above ground, while these poor prisoners stretch 
out their pallid shoots hither and thither, and 
weary themselves in their struggles for the broad 
daylight—all in vain. At length they wither and 
die, and soon become covered with mould, and 
erumbled to dust. Why is this? Why were the 
