THE WONDERS OF VEGETATION. 9 



vegetation would be a gigantic task ; for as we have 

 said, all the works of the Infinite are equally wonderful ; 

 all is marvellous in nature and the wonders of vegeta- 

 tion are limited only by the vegetable world itself. The 

 most modest of plants in our fields, peeping modestly 

 through the thick grass and those which reveal them- 

 selves under the microscope only, are quite as marvel- 

 lous as the splendid orchid, the hoary cedar, the trem- 

 bling sensitive plant and the poison tree. But in veg- 

 etation as in all things, the objects that appear to us 

 really marvellous are those which awaken within us 

 the most lively impressions. Owing to the natural in- 

 activity of our mind custom has the effect of blunting 

 our sensibilities, and of rendering our impressions less 

 lively by familiarity ; and thus the wonders which at 

 first secure our keenest attention and awaken our 

 most lively surprise, come in the course of time to be 

 regarded with indifference. " Custom stales their in- 

 . finite enchantment." What is unknown, what is new 

 will always seem striking to us and secure our atten- 

 tion. In proportion as the objects become familiar 

 they lose the power of exciting our wonder. Yet, 

 strictly speaking, two objects of equal interest can 

 never alter their relative position however accessible 

 either may become on investigation. 



Suppose one of us, living in a distant world, 

 should reach the earth to-day for the first time what 

 would be his surprise at beholding around him all the 

 manifold scenes, which, taken together, make up the 

 great work of nature ! The year is just beginning, and, 

 as at the dawn of day, joyous Spring reawakens the 



