i'^ A R M E R S' REGISTER, 



[No. 6 



the stamen, connected with the seed vessel, and 

 forms a vacant space. The pislilluin,, occupies 

 liie centre of the flower; it is the (emalc or repro- 

 duciive part of the plant; and like the anther, con- 

 sists of three divisions; viz. the sccd-vessoi or nvn- 

 riam, the siyle and the stigma. ' rha oiHiriu7n \s 

 differently constructed, and assumes various 

 shapes. The style is that portion of ihe pistilhnii 

 which serves to elevate the stigma, ami is usually 

 seated on the topmost part of the ovarium, and is 

 of" various lenglhs; it is a cylindrical tube for the 

 purposed of admitting the descent of iho pollen 

 shed from the anthers. Sometimes the stijle is 

 wanting; when this is the case, the siigma is in 

 contact with the ovarium. As soon as the ova- 

 rium hecomcs impregnated, the style dies; some 

 plants have one style, some two or more. The 

 style and stigma, are very delicate members of 

 flowers, being easily injured by cold wiruls and 

 fi'osts. The stigma is found on the summit of the 

 style, if the latter be present; if not, on the apex 

 or crown of the ovarium. It is the only part of 

 the plant iliat has no cuticle, and, where perfect, is 

 covered with a lymph to catch and dissolve the 

 pollen shed from the anthers. In this delicate 

 mucilage, the pollen undergoes some kind of 

 change, or solution, preparatory to lis descent into 

 uterus. 'J'his seems to be the course in which the 

 sexual powers of plants are united and consumma- 

 ted. The receptacle is that part on which all the 

 members of flowers are sealed, and may be called 

 the flower stem. 



We have traced the plant from the seed, through 

 its various evolutions, and have given a short ac- 

 count of its members, organs and woody structure; 

 which may with propriety be called the solid parts 

 of vegetables. We propose now to make som.e 

 remarks on the fluids and tissues of plants. 



The various matters affording food for plants, 

 are changed by the organization of the vegetable; 

 from which their results a fluid generally distribu- 

 ted and known by the name of sap. This juice, 

 when conveyed into the several pans of tlie plant, 

 receives an infinity of modifications, and forms 

 the several fluids which are separated and afford- 

 ed by their various organs. 



The fiuids consist of aqueous and gaseous prin- 

 ciples, extracted from the earth and atmosphere. 

 These principles arc taken up by the plant and 

 elaborated into sap, mucilage, gum, glue, oil, resin, 

 sugar and various acid alid saline secretions. 

 Plants have numerous vessels, for the purpose of 

 transmitting these fluids; they are found perva- 

 ding every part of I he root, stem, branches, leaves, 

 flowers, fructification and fruit: indeed these ves- 

 sels, as numerous as they are in large frees, may 

 be found in the young tender plant, and even in 

 the embryo, long before germinalioii. Tlie circu- 

 lation then commences with the seo;', imJ conti- 

 nues through its evolu'.ion and growth, duwn to ihe 

 closing period of lift?. The vessels common to 

 plants, are inhaling and exhalinor vessels, spiral 

 tubes, and longitudinal ducts. Vessels are com- 

 posed of circular fibres, so delicate and clastic, that 

 they are capable of contraction and relaxation. 

 This alternate contraction and relaxation of the 

 circular fibres, together with capillary attraction 

 and heat, causes the fluids of plants to circulate 

 through their numerous vessels; which divide and 

 sub-divide into an infinite number of branches and 

 ramifications, unii! every part tif the plant is su])- 



plied with fluid matter. Tiie cellular tissue, or 

 membrane, is found in every part of plants, bind- 

 ing their structure, giving them form, and may be 

 considered a bond of union; tying not only every 

 woody fibre to its fellow, but linking together 

 there, in one solid mass, all their various parts. The 

 cellular tissue, has innumerable minute cells, va- 

 rying in form and size, slightly attached to each 

 other; these cells attract and al>sorb moistin-e and 

 gaseous matters, from the atmosphere and earth, 

 and after elaborating the elemanlary principles, 

 they go the round of circulation, and are formed into 

 sap, oil, mucilage, &c. The delicate pellicle or 

 skin of the cells of this membranous tissue in the 

 lower order of vegetation is mucilaginous; in the 

 higher orders, they become ligneous, and consti- 

 tute what is called wood or limber. As all plants 

 are of rudimental origin, it is natural to conclude 

 that the cellular membrane, vascular mendirane, 

 and woody membrane or tissues, are co-eval with 

 plants, which "grow with their growth, and 

 strengthen with their strength." These three ele- 

 mentary organs, viz: the cellular, vascular and 

 woody tissues, when united, form abend of union, 

 and by their wonderful inosculations and ramifi- 

 cations, pervade the whole plant; giving to every 

 part, its organic structure, form and comeliness. 



Plants may be compared to animals; having 

 their solid parts analogous to bones, cartilages, 

 muscles and tendons: the fluids of the vegetable 

 kingdom may be compared to the blood of ani- 

 mals; with this difference, that the latter is pro- 

 pelled through arteries, by the muscular power of 

 the heart, and sap, we have reason to believe is 

 pushed forward by the expansive power of heal 

 and capillary altiaction. Blood, after going the 

 round of circulation, is returned by veins, except 

 that part washed olT, and arrested by a number of 

 glands, a process called secretion. This we be- 

 lieve is pretty much the case with the sap of ve- 

 getables; for we know secreted fluids are formed 

 from sap. and afier supplying every part of the 

 the plant vvith fluid matter, it returns and descends 

 to the roots. The blood is formed from well digest- 

 ed food, this is the case with regard to sap; so that 

 vegetables are analogous to animals, both king- 

 doms being dependent on the earth and atmos- 

 phere for subsistence. The Iiigliest link in the 

 vegetable scale of existence, is perhaps but one 

 remove from the lowest link in the anin;al king- 

 dom. Vegetables, have roots for their digestive 

 organs, trunks for their support, branches for their 

 exlremilies, leaves lor their lungs, bark for their 

 skin, woody fibres for their bones, cartdages, mus- 

 cles and tendons, spiral vessels and ducts for their 

 arteries and veins, and sap for their blood. They 

 have, also, male and female organs of generation, 

 and fruit and seed as their offspring. The growth 

 of vegetables depends on various decomposition; 

 which evolve anumber of gas.ses that are absorbed 

 by the plant, and elaborated into sap, mucilage, 

 oil, &c. Like animals, they cannot live without 

 food and drink ; like animals, they feed upon air. 

 water, animal and vegetable productions. The 

 rapid or slow growth of vegetables, depend on ra- 

 pid or slow decomposition ; (or nothing can exist 

 except it be from something which had previously 

 perished; composition and decomposition are con- 

 tinually taking place upon tlic earth, and without 

 this [irovision in nature, the vegetable and animal 

 kingdoms would, in a short time, become extinct. 

 (To be continued.) 



