236 NATURAL THEOLOaY. 



contiguous points of the same stalk ? It never happens thus 

 in robust plants, or in trees. " We see not," says Ray, "so 

 much as one tree, or shrub, or herb, that has a firm and 

 strong stem, and that is able to mount up and stand alone 

 without assistance, y^r^izzs/ie^ icith these tendrils'^ Make 

 only so simple a comparison as that between a pea and a 

 bean. Why does the pea put forth tendrils, the bean not, 

 but because the stalk of the pea cannot support itself, the 

 stalk of the bean can? We may add also, as a circum- 

 stance not to be overlooked, that, in the pea tribe, these 

 clasps do not make their appearance till they are wanted — 

 till the plant has grown to a height to stand in need of 

 support. 



This word "support" suggests to us a reflection upon a 

 property of grasses, of corn, and canes. The hollow stems 

 of these classes of plants are set at certain intervals with 

 joints. These joints are not found in the trunks of trees, or 

 in the solid stallis of plants. There may be other uses of 

 these joints ; but the fact is, and it appears to be at least 

 one purpose designed by them, that they corroborate the 

 stem, which by its length and hollo wness would otherwise 

 be too liable to break or bend. 



Grasses are Nature's care. With these she clothes the 

 earth ; with these she sustains its inhabitants. Cattle feed 

 upon their leaves ; birds upon their smaller seeds ; men 

 upon the larger; for few readers need be told that the 

 plants which produce our bread-corn belong to this cla&s. 

 In those tribes which are more generally considered as 

 grasses, their extraordinary means and powers of preserva- 

 tion and increase, their hardiness, their almost unconquer- 

 able disposition to spread, their faculties of reviviscence, co- 

 incide with the intention of nature concerning them. They 

 thrive under a treatment by which other plants are destroy- 

 ed. The more their leaves are consumed, the more their 

 roots increase. The more they are trampled upon, the 

 thicker they grow Many of the seemingly dry and dead 



