58 Instinct, 



sight which closely imitates the higher provisions 

 made by Instinct. Near the close of each season 

 there is elaborated by every tree food that is not 

 then used but stored up in its tissues for a day of 

 need. That time of need is the next spring, when 

 the new generation of leaves suddenly appears, un- 

 folding as garlands of beauty upon every tree and 

 shrub, but having in addition to their beauty of 

 form and color for adorning the earth, the more im- 

 portant office of building up the tree and preparing 

 for flowers and fruit that without the leaf would 

 wither and fall for want of food. Now it is, as a 

 first step in the work of the new year, that the ma- 

 terial prepared beforehand by the tree and* safely 

 kept in its tissues during the winter months, is 

 called into requisition for leaf-making. In vain 

 would the spring sunshine and showers soften the 

 sward and stimulate the buds, and quicken the 

 roots to gather materials from the soil — the tree 

 would die in the midst of plenty and with every 

 outward condition i-n favor of its life, had it not 

 wisely stored up material already elaborated for the 

 making of leaves. When they are once unfolded, 

 the earth and air are both laid under continued con- 

 tribution to furnish all the products of the year. 

 And when the layer of woody fibre has been added 

 to the tree, the fruits brought to their perfection 

 and the buds set and sealed with cunning workman- 

 ship, the tree lays by a store of food for the growth 

 of those buds which are to enliven another year, as 

 certainly as the instinct-guided animal ever made 

 provision for its young. 



