50 PK06EKPINA. 



sometimes five times greater than that which impels the 

 blood in the crural artery of the horse." 



18. Hence generally, I think we may conclude thus 

 much, that at every pore of its surface, under ground 

 and above, the plant in the spring absorbs moisture, which 

 instantly disperses itself through its whole system " by 

 means of some permeable quality of the membranes of the 

 cellular tissue invisible to our eyes even by the most pow- 

 erful glasses" (p. 326) ; that in this way subjected to the 

 vital power of the tree, it becomes sap, properly so called, 

 which passes downwards through this cellular tissue, slowly 

 and secretly ; and then upwards, through the great vessels 

 of the tree, violently, stretching out the supple twigs of it 

 as you see a flaccid waterpipe swell and move when the 

 cock is turned to fill it. And the tree becomes literally a 

 fountain, of which the springing streamlets are clothed 

 with new-woven garments of green tissue, and of which 

 the silver spray stays in the sky, a spray, now, of leaves. 



19. That is the gist of the matter ; and a very wonder- 

 ful gist it is, to my mind. The secret and subtle descent 

 the violent and exulting resilience of the tree's blood, 

 what guides it? what compels? The creature has no 

 heart to beat like ours ; one cannot take refuge from the 

 mystery in a ' muscular contraction.' Fountain without 

 supply playing by its own force, for ever rising and 

 falling all through the days of Spring, spending itself at 

 last in gathered clouds of leaves, and iris of blossom. 



Very wonderful ; and it seems, for the present, that 



