136 SCIENCE OF LIFE. 



different flowers on the same plant ; we invariably find 

 that the stamens are placed on the uppermost parts of 

 the branch above the pistils, an arrangement which is 

 no doubt provided to facilitate the scattering of their 

 pollen upon the stigmas. If they were placed below 

 the pistils it would be much more difficult for the pol- 

 len to reach the stigma, and consequently, the great 

 end of the creation of the stamens would be almost 

 frustrated. We find, however, that every thing is fore- 

 seen and provided for by Providence, with the same 

 care in these little plants as in the most exalted and 

 perfect of the works of nature ; and that even so appa- 

 rently useless and insignificant a weed as the Bur-reed 

 contains the most convincing evidence of the worthless- 

 ness of the opinions of those who, denying the existence 

 of the Deity, would have the world believe that living 

 things are the mere result of a fortuitous concourse of 

 atoms, attracting and repelling each other with different 

 degrees of force."* The recent elaborate observations 

 of Darwin, Sir J. Lubbock, and others, upon the fertil- 

 ization of plants, as the Orchids, by the visits of insects, 

 although sought to be explained by the principle of 

 11 unconscious natural selection," finds a more ready and 

 satisfactory explanation in the case of an ever-present 

 Providence, since if the colors, and honey, and structure 

 of the flowers are " all arranged with reference to the 

 visits of insects," f the structure and habits of insects 

 are equally adapted to the fertilization of the flowers. 

 From the design we infer a Designer. 



*" Ladies' Botany," by Dr. J. Lindley. 



f Lubbock's " Wild Flowers in Relation to Insects." 



