4493. curious phenomena in natural bistory. | 245 
time in the ¢arth, without losing their vegetatiag 
powers; examples of this fact we See in the thistle, 
and the lobellia or cardinal flower, which have been 
known to remain in the ground twenty years -with- 
out injury, and the hypecoon forty, whilst the seeds 
of the melon, of cafsia, and of sensative plant, 
retain their vegetating powers for forty or fifty 
years. 
In fhort it would be endlefs to point out the won- 
derful ways that providence takes to preserve from 
extinction every species of plant, as even the very 
animals are made subservient.to this great end ; as 
those who feed on fruits and seeds, hide them in 
the ground, where they often take root by the ne~ 
gligence, forgetfulnefs, or death of the owners. 
Thus the squirrel, the mouse, the jay, &c. plant 
muts; and many insects plant corn, and other 
seeds. 
I fhall now finifh my second letter with a fhort 
note on the sleep of plants. 
The vigil and repose of plants, one of the most 
curious subjects in natural history, merits some 
slight notice here, qualities pofsefsed in 2 most emi« 
nent degree, by what have been called the solar 
plants; more particularly by that subdivision of 
them named Lguinoxial, which observe more re- 
gular hours, and are lefs affected by the state of 
the atmosphere, than either the tropical, or meteo-~ 
rical, the other two subdivisions. 
The great Linnzus, found the hours of opening 
and fhutting of the equinoxial plants so exact, that 
he composed a sort of garden clock from them, suf 
7 
