264 SYLVAN WINTER. 



So the process goes on, with marvellous and 

 beautiful regularity, and with wonderful adapta- 

 tion to the multifarious necessities of the vegetable 

 world. The exquisitely varied loveliness of the 

 forest is due to the marvellous diversity of the 

 processes of Nature. The differences of stem and 

 bough and twig, of leaf and flower and seed 

 differences of size, colour, form, and taste are 

 due to the infinitely varying proportions in which 

 elemental substances are combined in the perfect 

 mechanism of stem, leaf, flower, and fruit. And 

 how simple, yet beautiful, is the arrangement by 

 which these differences are maintained ! The 

 fallen leaves of the wintry Oak contain just the 

 elements which produced its individuality; and 

 close at hand therefore, when these elements are 

 carried into the soil by the agency of water, are 

 the constituents of the glory and splendour of 

 the succeeding season. So it is throughout the 

 forest, Nature everywhere maintaining the balance, 

 and promoting and continuing the harmony of 

 that variety, which is the greatest charm of the 

 vegetable world. 



