108 CHICKWEED. 



could imagine that a plant ^vould emerge 

 from out of it, perfect in every part, and 

 having a most curious and elaborate ma- 

 chinery, adapted to all the purposes of vege- 

 table life ? one set of vessels constructed for 

 drawing up moisture from the roots, or for 

 imbibing it from the atmosphere, and for 

 diffusing it in the character of sap, to every 

 little leaf, and bud, and blossom : another set, 

 by means of which greenness is given to the 

 leaf, and whiteness to the flower, nourish- 

 ment is impai'ted to the opening bud, and 

 the mysterious process of its growth, and its 

 perfection, is carried on ; that there are 

 also within the stalk and stem, a multitude 

 of spiral wires, in order that the stem may 

 bend when needed, or recover its rigidity, 

 when the purpose of its bending is accom- 

 plished ? Yet these, and very many more, 

 are curiously enwrapped within the simple 

 chickweed ! 



