THE LEAF AS A PHYSICAL STUDY. 133 



plan, purpose, and design, and results therefrom stupendous in 

 magnitude. 



Let us consider the leaf in that broad view adopted by the 

 physiologist, who looks upon it as a part of matter, having its 

 functions to perform, and its relationship to other great creative 

 powers of nature. The botanist must take the second position ; 

 and to him we will leave the details of classification and scientific 

 arrangement, which, though important and absolutely necessary 

 when we study it as scientists to unlock the secrets of nature, are 

 unnecessary to our present purpose. 



The word leaf is of Saxon origin, and means broad and flat, — 

 just what the leaf is. It is a characteristic word of that strong 

 and expressive language. 



Before we have the leaf we have the bud, which consists of a 

 brief cone-shaped axis with a tender growing point, bearing a pro- 

 tective covering of imbricated scales and incipient leaves. Within 

 this bud the botanist will point out to us the rudimentary leaf and 

 bud envelopes, and will classify' with the greatest minuteness the 

 various characters therein presented, and a day could be profit- 

 ably spent with him in considering the vernation of the bud alone ; 

 but as physiologists we pass on. 



During m}' lonesome drives in spring-time I have whiled away 

 many wear}' hours, and shortened the miles, by noting the bud 

 development of our native trees and shrubs. Nothing can be more 

 satisfactory to the lover of nature than to witness this evidence of 

 awakening vitality, for it tells him that the inclement season has 

 passed, and that the beauties of the spring-time are at hand. The 

 great swollen buds, with their varnished surfaces, can present to 

 the thoughtful man a sermon of trust and immortalit}', more pregnant 

 with everlasting truths than all the theological reasonings we hear 

 from the pulpits. 



The growing bud throws off its now useless scales, and we liave 

 the miniature leaf before us ; tender in its fibre, delicate in its 

 tracery of outline, and beautiful beyond the painter's art in its 

 softened coloring. A few da^'s of warm sunshine and balmy winds, 

 and what a change has taken place upon the whole face of the 

 country ! Every shrub and tree is loaded with verdure ; bleak 

 woodlands are now delightful resorts, and the brown fields are 

 transformed into seas of emerald ; hundreds of thousands of tons of 

 foliage have appeared — from whence? 



The leaf is full grown, and from now till fall carries on its 



