160 THE MICROSCOPE AND ITS LESSONS. 



"Where flowers blush in glowing light, 



In lowliness or pride, 

 We feel, all o'er the blooming sod, 



It is the language of our God." 



To examine a flower satisfactorily, we shall find a 

 very low power necessary. Our object-glass will be a 

 four-inch, that is, one magnifying only ten diameters, or 

 a hundred superficial times; this will enable us to see 

 right down into the flower of this heart's-ease just brought 

 from the garden. Ah, you may well exclaim again, 

 " What omnipotence ! " 



This flower I have cut clean a way from its stem, and, 

 placing it in the stage forceps, I throw a flood of light 

 upon it through the side condenser the bull's-eye lens 

 so called. And now we penetrate into the mysteries of the 

 ovary ; for there you can see it in the very bottom of the 

 flower. But what words may express, what pen describe, 

 or still further what pencil portray, the glory of the 

 colour and form exhibited in this beautiful specimen of 

 God's handiwork? 



Now, let me gather one small head of the "little 

 darling " (mignonette). Here, first, is a bit of this exquisite 

 flower, to compare with that just gathered, sent me in a 

 letter two years ago, though dried and its beauty greatly 

 diminished. See how its surprising group of blossoms 

 delights us still. And its perfume ! why, that is preserved, 

 though its life has long since departed. What a lesson ! 

 We also must leave an influence behind, and it is for us 

 to decide whether that will be for good or evil. 



You will not easily forget these two flowers I have 

 thus imperfectly introduced to you, I am very sure. 



What is commonly called the dust of any ordinary 

 garden flower is known botanically as pollen ; this is it 

 which, by impregnation of the ovules, produces the next 



