NATURAL THEOLOGY. 189 



A. Every plant furnishes occasion for admiring the 

 wisdom of the Creator. The seed and the fruit are the 

 most important parts. The seed is wanted to repro- 

 duce the plant ; and it is generally for the fruit the 

 plant is useful. We are first to observe the particu- 

 lar provisions which are made for both the seed and 

 the fruit in the structure of the plant. 



T. This is an interesting portion of the subject, 

 and you may be a little particular ; first, as to the 

 parts which produce the fruit. 



A. They are called by botanists the pointals and 

 stamens. They are the small fine threads we gener- 

 ally see inside the flower. The pointed is commonly 

 situated in the middle, terminating in a knob at the 

 top, which is called the stigma, and, in another at the 

 bottom, which is termed the germ, and which is to 

 become the fruit, and contain the seed. The stamens 

 usually surround the pointal in a circle ; bearing on 

 their upper extremities what are called the anthers, 

 which produce a dust, that is named the farina or 

 pollen. It is that yellow powder which comes off 

 upon the finger in a full blown flower. Its use is to 

 lodge upon the pointal, where it produces a certain 

 effect, which is found to be necessary for the forma- 

 tion of the fruit. Remove this dust and the plant 

 will produce nothing. 



Whatever the form and situation of these curious 

 parts of the plant, without which it would be barren, 

 we discover an extraordinary degree of care exhibit- 

 ed by nature, to preserve them. First, they are 

 not exposed, till it is necessary, or till their office is 



