HARMONIES OF VEGETATION. 



they thrive very well in the Antilles, never produce seed there. 

 Father de Tertre observed in those islands, that the cabbage, the 

 santfoin, the savory, the sweet basil, the nettle, the plantain, the 

 wormwood, the sage, the liverwort, the amaranth, and all our 

 species of gramineous plants grow there wonderfully well, but 

 never yielded any seed. This proves that it is neither the air nor 

 the soil which is objectionable, but the sun, which acts too power- 

 fully on the flowers : for most of these plants have theirs aggre- 

 gated into ears, which greatly increase the repercussion of the solar 

 rays. 



12. A certain degree of solar beat is necessary to the 

 economy of the flower, the extent of which, must differ 

 more or less with the kind of plant and its natural soil. 



Some flowers are rendered susceptible of reflecting heat under 

 different degrees of latitude, with scarcely any alteration in their 

 form. Thus, between the tropics most flowers are placed upon 

 trees, to raise them above the reflexion of the soil. In those regions 

 very few are to be found in the meadows, but a great number in the 

 forests. There yon are obliged to look aloft to discover flowers, 

 here you must cast your eyes on the ground, for with us, they grow 

 mostly among the grass and on shrubs. 



13. There are a variety of other causes bj which 

 nature lias harmonized the flower of plants with that 

 powerful agent on vegetation, the solar heat. 



Sometimes she expands her floral beauties beneath the shade of 

 leaves, sometimes she destines them to bloom when the sun retires 

 to cherish another clime ; sometimes she provides them with suitable 

 appendages ; but in all cases, and under all circumstances, a careful 

 observer will discover, how wisely they are provided for by th 

 wisdom of Providence. 



14. While some flowers are so formed, coloured, or 

 situated, as to reflect heat on the immediate parts of 



